THE Department of Labor and Employment yesterday called on business establishments to adopt multiple and staggered work shifts in support of the government’s thrust to further reopen the economy amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) pandemic.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said the move aims to allow more workers to report for work while complying with physical distancing requirements.
“Through this measure, we also expect that congestion on our roads would spread out and demand for public transportation would ease,” he said.
Under the new policy, workers don’t have to report for work all at the same time.
“Some may start at 7am while others at 8am, 9am and so on,” the labor chief explained
However, Bello clarified that work-from-home arrangements and other flexible workplace plans are still encouraged by the government.
He said the latest strategy is contained in the first joint advisory issued by the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Interior Local Government and DOLE.
The labor chief said the advisory highlights the importance of implementing the new policy directions of the government as the country shifts its path from total risk avoidance to risk management and further reopening of the economy.
He added the government believes that with more Filipinos reporting for work, there will be more activities that can perk up commerce and trade.
Aside from the multiple and staggered work shifts, Bello said the government also saw the need to ease curfew hours.
In the advisory, he said local governments are enjoined to implement a midnight to 4amcurfew policy.
“This is meant to provide our workers more productive time and mobility,” the labor chief added.
