Philippine 4-day work week? Extreme heat reignites talks on flexible deal

The Philippine Department of Health said that cases of heat-related illnesses had spiked to 77 from January 1 to April 29, with seven deaths potentially linked to the intense temperature.

El Nino is a naturally occurring climatic phenomenon that warms parts of the Pacific Ocean every two to seven years.

In Cavite, more than 30km south of Manila, the provincial government declared a temporary shift to a compressed four-day work week in its offices beginning in late April. Employees are expected to report to work from 7am to 6pm Monday through Thursday until July 31.

Governor Jonvic Remulla noted Cavite had recorded extremely high temperatures with its heat index peaking at 48 degrees Celsius on April 24. The index measures the relative temperature to the human body, factoring in humidity.

Other local leaders have also issued similar four-day work-week orders for city hall and government workers in their vicinities. These exclude frontline workers such as emergency responders, traffic enforcers and health workers.

Public schools have suspended in-person classes nationwide due to the blazing heat as children adapt to alternative learning modes like take-home modules and asynchronous classes.

Conversations about adopting a compressed 40-hour work week – a 10-hour, four-day arrangement instead of working eight hours, five days a week – are not new in the Philippines. Socioeconomic planning secretary Karl Chua proposed this shift in 2022 after fuel prices spiked due to the Ukraine war.

Employers had the prerogative to adapt compressed four-day work weeks and other alternative arrangements even without a government order, the labour department said.

Other countries in the region are also pivoting to alternative work arrangements. In