THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) encouraged the private sector to adopt flexible work arrangements to conserve energy and reduce fuel consumption in the face of rising oil prices due to the war in Iran. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma on Monday said private enterprises may either adopt the four-day compressed workweek or work-from-home schemes to ease operational costs while protecting workers’ welfare. “This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to conserve energy and reduce fuel consumption in response to Middle East oil price hikes, to cut down on operational costs and help conserve energy,” Laguesma said. The chief executive earlier ordered the temporary implementation of a four-day workweek in some government offices as part of efforts to conserve energy and reduce fuel use. The same flexible work arrangements were implemented in both public and private sectors at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. DOLE spokesman Assistant Secretary Lennard Constantine Serrano said such flexible work schemes should be voluntary and mutually agreed upon by employers and workers. Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) Director Alvin Curada said that compliance with the Labor Code and occupational safety and health (OSH) requirements is mandatory, and the schemes must in no case reduce workers’ wages or benefits. Under the compressed workweek, the standard 40-hour workweek is distributed across four days instead of five. On the other hand, the work-from-home/hybrid scheme allows employees to work remotely, for instance, on one day (like a Friday) after completing a regular four-day onsite schedule, depending on the nature of their work. DOLE has provided guidelines on flexible work arrangements, including the compressed workweek, since 2004. Work-from-home was later institutionalized under Republic Act (RA) 11165 (the Telecommuting Act) and reinforced by Department Order 237, series of 2022. DOLE said the feasibility of these setups is industry-dependent, noting that sectors like mining, agriculture, and manufacturing may face operational limitations. Employers who implement flexible work arrangements must submit a report through DOLE’s online compliance portal once the mutual agreement with employees is finalized. Workers with concerns about alternative work arrangements can seek assistance from DOLE’s regional and provincial offices or contact the department’s frontline service, Hotline 1349, open Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.