The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Friday, May 29, 2026, that it will return to the standard five-day workweek arrangement after more than two months of implementing a compressed four-day schedule.
Return to Standard Workweek
In a statement, DOLE said Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino issued a memorandum directing all department bureaus, services, regional offices, and attached agencies to revert to the five-day workweek effective June 1, 2026.
"The interim four-day compressed workweek arrangement is hereby revoked, and the standard five-day workweek structure is formally restored," the DOLE said.
Fulfilling the Mandate
The department emphasized that the move is intended to fully fulfill its mandate to serve all workers. "This is to fulfill the department's statutory mandate to the public," DOLE stated.
Energy Conservation Continues
Despite returning to the five-day setup, DOLE assured that it will continue its efforts to reduce electricity and fuel consumption. "The department assures that it will continue to observe energy conservation measures even as it returns to the five-day setup," DOLE said.
Background
In March 2026, the Office of the President issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 114, directing government agencies and instrumentalities to strictly adopt energy conservation protocols. In compliance, DOLE shifted to a compressed four-day workweek.
With the new memorandum, the four-day arrangement is now revoked, and the standard schedule is restored. (Anton Banal/SunStar Philippines)
