Philippines
4-Day Work Week in the Philippines
President Marcos signed Memorandum Circular 114, bringing a compressed 4-day workweek to government agencies nationwide — a landmark shift in Philippine work culture.
The 4-Day Work Week Movement in the Philippines
From national legislation to city-level pilots — the Philippines is actively reimagining the traditional workweek.
City & Provincial Pilots (2024)
Before national legislation, local governments led the way with compressed workweek experiments driven by extreme El Niño heat.
Cavite Province
Executive Order No. 19 (Series of 2024) moved government employees to a Monday–Thursday schedule, 7 AM to 6 PM, starting April 29, 2024. Essential services (health, jail, DRRMO, public safety) continued regular 5-day schedules.
Binmaley, Pangasinan
The local government implemented a 4-day workweek from April 22 to June 30, 2024. Employees worked 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Thursday. Enterprise, MDRRMO, waste management, and traffic units stayed on 5-day rosters.
City of Imus
Executive Order No. 027 (s. 2024) set city offices to operate Monday to Thursday, 8 AM to 7 PM, starting May 6. The goal was to protect workers from extreme heat while maintaining essential service continuity.
💡 Background: The idea of a compressed 40-hour workweek is not new to the Philippines. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua proposed this shift as early as 2022 in response to rising fuel costs triggered by the Ukraine war.
Vacation & Leave in the Philippines
Philippine labor law provides several leave entitlements beyond the standard statutory minimum.
Service Incentive Leave (SIL)
5 days/year after 1 year of service. Employees with 3+ years may earn up to 18 days/year.
Maternity Leave
105 days paid maternity leave (+15 days for solo mothers). 7 days paternity leave for fathers.
Solo Parent Leave
7 additional leave days for solo parents per year under Republic Act 8972.
VAWC Leave
10 days paid leave for women who are victims of violence (RA 9262).
Bereavement Leave
Typically 3–7 days, at employer's discretion — not legally mandated.
Leave Conversion
Unused leave credits can typically be converted to cash at year-end.
🗓️ 12 Philippine Public Holidays
Overtime Rules in the Philippines
The Philippine Labor Code sets clear minimum overtime rates depending on the type of day worked.
Regular Workdays
Employees earn 25% above their standard hourly rate for any hours worked beyond 8 in a regular workday.
Rest Days & Special Holidays
Overtime on rest days or special holidays is compensated at 130% of the regular hourly wage.
Regular Holidays
Employees receive double their daily rate for the first 8 hours on a regular holiday. Overtime beyond that carries an even higher premium.
Remote & Flexible Work Trends
The Philippines has one of the highest rates of remote work preference in Southeast Asia, backed by landmark legislation.
Source: Statista / CEIC, 2022–2025
Telecommuting Act of 2019
Republic Act 11165 formally recognized telecommuting as an alternative work arrangement in the private sector. Under this law, remote workers are entitled to the same benefits, rights, and protections as on-site employees — including overtime pay, leave entitlements, and social security coverage.
Data from 2025 OECD & Philippine government sources · Updated April 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about work schedules, leave, and labor law in the Philippines.
References & Sources
- → PCO — President Marcos Orders Temporary 4-Day Workweek
- → Memorandum Circular No. 114 (Full PDF)
- → Philstar — Marcos OKs 4-Day Workweek for Executive Offices
- → The Guardian — Philippines Considers 4-Day Week (2022)
- → Philippine Labor Code — Overtime Provisions
- → Telecommuting Act of 2019 (RA 11165)
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