Mandaue City Hall Assures Job Order Workers of Unaffected Salaries Under New Four-Day Work Week
The City Government of Mandaue has firmly guaranteed that the income of Job Order (JO) workers will not be impacted by the implementation of a four-day work week, which is set to commence on April 16. This policy follows an executive order issued by Mayor Thadeo Jovito 'Jonkie' Ouano, aimed at enhancing work-life balance while safeguarding employee earnings.
Full Pay Maintained Despite Reduced Schedule
City officials have emphasized that JO workers, who are typically under a "no-work, no-pay" arrangement, will not see any reduction in their salaries despite the shorter work schedule. Atty. Riczen Gingoyon, the executive secretary to the mayor, explained that this policy was specifically designed for the benefit of JO personnel. He clarified that these workers will continue to be compensated for a full five-day work week, even as the physical office hours are condensed.
"The mayor is deeply concerned about our Job Order workers. He wants to ensure that their monthly income does not decrease," stated Gingoyon. Under the new setup, JO employees will be assigned tasks to complete from home every Friday. This approach ensures they receive payment even when they are not physically reporting to their offices.
Remote Work Assignments on Fridays
"It will still be considered a five-day work week. On Fridays, they will be paid while working from home on duties such as budgeting, research, or encoding," Gingoyon added. This innovative arrangement allows the city to maintain operational continuity while supporting its workforce. The four-day work week, signed into effect on April 10, does not imply a complete halt in government operations.
A skeletal workforce will remain in place each Friday to ensure that critical and revenue-generating services continue without interruption. Gingoyon further clarified that work arrangements will vary depending on the nature of each office's functions. While some administrative units may adopt work-from-home models, field personnel, such as traffic enforcers, will still be required to report on-site.
Implementation and Adjustments
Department heads have been instructed to submit implementation plans to guide the transition. Gingoyon acknowledged that there may be adjustments as the policy is rolled out, stating, "There will be some adjustments because this is the first time we are implementing this. We are open to refining the system once we see how it works in practice."
The final decision on which offices will fully adopt the four-day work week remains under evaluation by the city's Administration Office and the mayor. This careful approach aims to balance efficiency with employee welfare, ensuring a smooth adaptation to the new work schedule without compromising public service delivery.
