Palaweños in favor of proposed Worker’s Rest Law

Employers may soon be prohibited from contacting their employees through text, calls, or email outside office hours if the proposed “Worker’s Rest Law” is passed.

Calamba Rep. Joaquin Chipeco authored the bill which was also filed in Senate by Senator Francis Tolentino recently.

Melody Langusta, who works for a logistics company branch in Puerto Princesa, expressed her support for the approval of the proposed law.

“Sa logistics kasi kahit rest day, basta dumating na ‘yung barko namin for cargo, mapipilitan kami mag-pull out. Kaya ‘yung rest day na imbis na quality time na lang kasama ang pamilya nababawasan pa,” Langusta said.

Meanne Roque, who works for a private law firm, said that the proposed law would show equality among employees who are in dire need of rest after a long weekday spent at work.

“Siyempre kapag na-approve ‘yan, ‘yung RD (rest day) namin eh for sure magagamit namin para sa gawaing bahay at ibang errands na maisisingit lang kapag walang pasok,” Roque said.

The bill also prescribes that companies which are under compressed workweek arrangement where there are less work days, employees must not work more than 12 hours a day.

“Any period other than the hours of work shall be considered as rest hours of an employee,” the bill states.

The bill covers employees in all establishments and undertakings whether for profit or not, except field personnel, domestic helpers, persons in the service of another and workers who are paid by results.

The proposed measure defines ‘field personnel’ as non-agricultural employees who regularly perform their duties away from the principle place of business of branch office of the employer and who’s actual hours of work in the field cannot be determined with reasonable certainty.

The legislative measure stated that during rest hours, employers are proscribed from contacting their employees for work-related purpose or ask them to report for work or to travel and be on duty for work-related activities.

Any person violating the provision shall pay P1,000 per hour of work rendered by their employees.