Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the decision to restore a five-day workweek at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) was driven by the agency’s growing workload, the need for continuous inspections, and its responsibility as a frontline service provider.
Speaking on DZRH’s “Special on Saturday,” Tolentino said a reduced four-day schedule was no longer sufficient to meet the demands of the department, particularly as it handles increasing labor cases and urgent field operations.
“Hindi tayo dapat tumigil mag-inspection hanggang Huwebes. Dapat mag-inspection tayo kung kahit Sabado kasi kulang kami sa tao,” Tolentino said, noting that recent incidents such as a building collapse in Angeles City, Pampanga, underscored the need for more frequent and sustained labor inspections. He added that inspections may even need to extend to weekends due to manpower constraints.
Tolentino also pointed to the mounting caseload handled by DOLE’s labor arbiters, saying the volume of hearings now mirrors that of the judiciary, which operates on a full five-day workweek.
“Sa mga arbiters namin, ang dami pong hini-hearing na kaso kagaya din ng judiciary. So sabi ko, kahit itong Office of the Secretary, dapat nandito tayo ngayon kung ang migrant workers na anak ng Department of Labor ay nagpa-five days,” he said, explaining that limiting workdays affects the speed of case resolution and delivery of justice to workers.
The labor chief said the decision was also influenced by the operational standards of related agencies, including the Department of Migrant Workers, which already follows a five-day schedule.
As a frontline agency, Tolentino said DOLE must remain fully accessible to the public, especially with ongoing and upcoming programs such as the rollout of emergency employment assistance under TUPAD and scheduled job fairs.
“Hindi naman para pahirapan yung ating mga empleyado sa Dole. Dahil po dyan, pati itong ilulunsan natin at TUPAD nga sa lunes, talagang overtime kami," he said.
Tolentino added that the move reflects a principle of shared responsibility within the labor sector, noting that government officials should match the commitment of workers who regularly render overtime.
“Kung yung mga manggagawa natin talaga nag-overtime lagi, dapat yung nangangasiwa ay mag-overtime din. So yun po yung nagbunsod niya,” he said.
DOLE had earlier adopted a compressed four-day workweek in compliance with government energy conservation measures. Tolentino said the department would continue to observe energy-saving practices even as it resumes a full workweek.
The restored five-day schedule takes effect June 1.
