Amid the Middle East Tension, Marcos Jr. OKs Temporary Implementation of 4-Day Work Week in Some Gov’t Offices
MARCOS JR. – The President announced the implementation of the temporary 4-day work week in some government offices starting March 9.
The recent airstrike of the United States and Israel against Iran caused several deaths including the demise of a Filipina caregiver in Israel. The tension in the Middle East caused concerns of a possible massive hike in oil cost in the upcoming weeks.
Several government officials already called and made initiatives for energy conservation with regards to the possible surge in the fuel costs in the upcoming weeks and months amid the ongoing tension in the Middle East.
U.S. Pres. Donald Trump claimed that Iran supposedly conducts a long-running campaign of violence that opposes the interests of America. According to him, the Iranian leaders allegedly refused to abandon their nuclear ambitions as well.
Amid the ongoing Middle East tension, proposals for the implementation of a 4-day work week in the Philippines crossed the surface. Malacañang previously confirmed that Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will study the proposal of reducing the working days into a 4-day work week for energy conservation.
“The President may study the suggestion, especially if the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates,” Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro previously claimed.
Recently, an update about the matter crossed the surface. Based on ABS-CBN News, Marcos Jr. announced the temporary implementation of a 4-day work week for government offices beginning March 9.
Based on the post, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. clarified that the temporary implementation of the 4-day work week amid the Middle East tension does not apply to all government offices and agencies. According to the President, those offices which provide emergency and frontline services are not included in the temporary work schedule order.
“Hindi kabilang dito ang mga nagbibigay ng emergency o pangunahing serbisyo, gaya ng mga pulis, bumbero, at mga tanggapan na nagbibigay ng frontline services sa publiko,” Marcos Jr. said.
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also announced the temporary ban on the non-essential trips and activities in government offices. These include study tour, meetings that can be done online, and team-building activities.
Amid the Middle East tension, Senator Erwin Tulfo recently called on the DFA, OWWA, and DME to do their job amid complaints that their hotlines could not allegedly be reached by the Filipinos who are seeking for assistance.