Is there a 4-day week in Philippines?
Partly, and only in government. The Philippines has no law giving workers a 4-day week. What exists is a temporary presidential order. Memorandum Circular 114 told some executive agencies to adopt, from 9 March 2026, a four-day onsite week "through a compressed workweek" or a designated common work-from-home day. It was issued to save energy as the country braced for higher oil prices after the war in the Middle East. Emergency and essential services are excluded.
Offices that compress the week run longer days from Monday to Thursday, for example 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority; the other option, a common work-from-home day, does not cut hours either. As written, the circular has no end date and stays in effect until the President lifts or revokes it; we found no report that he has. Some bodies have gone back. DOLE returned to a five-day week on 1 June 2026, and Cebu Province returned to five days on 4 May and brought the four-day week back on 28 September.
The order is for government agencies. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) says private employers can adopt flexible schemes only if employers and workers agree voluntarily, with no reduction in workers' benefits.
Latest developments
Cebu Province brings back its four-day workweek
The province reinstated Monday-to-Thursday schedules (8 a.m. to 12 noon, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.) from 28 September to save energy. An earlier order had returned its offices to five days from 4 May.
SunStar Cebu: Capitol to return to 4-day workweek (opens in new tab)DOLE reverts to a five-day workweek
The Department of Labor and Employment revoked its interim four-day compressed workweek from 1 June 2026, to ensure uninterrupted delivery of labour and social protection services, citing a clause of Memorandum Circular 114.
People Matters: DOLE returns to five-day workweek after temporary compressed schedule (opens in new tab)DOLE: private firms may adopt flexible schemes by voluntary agreement
A DOLE spokesperson said flexible work arrangements in private firms must be voluntarily agreed by employers and workers and should not diminish workers' benefits.
PTV News: Private firms may implement flexible work schemes, DOLE (opens in new tab)Four-day onsite week starts in some executive agencies
Under Memorandum Circular 114, some executive-branch agencies were to adopt a four-day onsite week from 9 March, through a compressed workweek or a common work-from-home day, to cut energy and fuel use. Emergency and essential services such as police and firefighters were excluded.
Philstar: President Marcos OKs 4-day workweek in executive offices (opens in new tab)
Jobs in Philippines
Property Manager, U.S. Rentals
Lumikha · Remote · Philippines
4 Day Work Week
Who offers a 4-day week in Philippines
We do not list a company with a 4-day week in Philippines yet.
Suggest a companyHow Philippines compares
Philippines, the labelled dot, against the other countries we cover.
Statutory paid leave
25th longest of 26 countries, 15 days below the median of 20.
United Kingdom 28 to United States None
See all 26 countries
| Country | Days |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 28 |
| Austria | 25 |
| Denmark | 25 |
| Finland | 25 |
| France | 25 |
| Sweden | 25 |
| Iceland | 24 |
| Brazil | 22 |
| Portugal | 22 |
| Spain | 22 |
| Norway | 21 |
| Australia | 20 |
| Belgium | 20 |
| Germany | 20 |
| Ireland | 20 |
| Netherlands | 20 |
| New Zealand | 20 |
| Poland | 20 |
| Switzerland | 20 |
| Chile | 15 |
| South Africa | 15 |
| South Korea | 15 |
| Canada | 10 |
| Japan | 10 |
| Philippines | 5 |
| United States | None |
The legal minimum a year, in working days on a five-day week, before public holidays. Definitions differ: some countries set weeks or calendar days (converted here), the UK lets public holidays count and the United States has no national minimum. Each country page says what its number covers. No comparable figure for: Lithuania, United Arab Emirates.
Working in Philippines
Working hours
The Labor Code sets normal hours of work at no more than 8 hours a day. Work beyond 8 hours on a regular day earns the hourly rate plus at least 25%.
Paid leave and holidays
Every employee with at least one year of service gets 5 days of service incentive leave with pay a year. The rule does not apply to employees already getting at least five days of paid vacation leave, or to establishments regularly employing fewer than ten employees.
Part-time and flexible work
DOLE's guidance on flexible work, including compressed workweeks, rests on advisories including Department Advisory No. 02 (2009) and No. 04 (2010). In March 2026 its spokesperson said such arrangements must be voluntarily agreed by employers and workers and should not diminish workers' benefits.