Revised Guidelines on Flexible Working Hours in the Government
The CSC Memorandum Circular No. 25, issued on November 20, 2019, outlines revised guidelines for flexible working hours in Philippine government agencies to address traffic congestion, particularly in urban areas. Heads of departments are authorized to implement flexible schedules, ensuring employees complete a minimum of 40 hours over five days, while maintaining public service from 8 AM to 5 PM. Agencies may adjust working days, including weekends, and must allow compensatory time-off for employees working on those days. Additionally, agencies are required to submit an evaluation report on these changes to the Civil Service Commission within six months of implementation. The circular emphasizes the need for continuous public service delivery and the formulation of internal rules for flexibility.
November 20, 2019
CSC MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 25 S. 2019
| TO | : | All Heads of Constitutional Bodies; Departments, Bureaus and Agencies of the National Government; Local Government Units; Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations with Original Charters; and State Universities and Colleges |
| SUBJECT | : | Revised Guidelines on Flexible Working Hours in the Government |
Pursuant to CSC Resolution No. 1901335 promulgated on November 4, 2019, the Commission adopted the following Revised Guidelines on Flexible Working Hours in the Government to complement the strategies of the government to ease the traffic congestion particularly in Metro Manila and other highly urbanized cities in the country: AaCTcI
1. Heads of departments, offices and agencies shall have the authority to approve office working hours: Provided, that in such working hours officials and employees shall render not less than a total of forty (40) hours a week for five (5) days a week, exclusive of time for lunch.
2. The flexible working hours shall not start earlier than 7:00 o'clock in the morning and end later than 7:00 o'clock in the evening. Heads of departments, offices and agencies shall, however, ensure that the public is assured of the continuous services of the agency from 8:00 o'clock in the morning to 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon. They shall also ensure uninterrupted public service delivery even during lunch breaks.
3. In the exigency of the service, working hours may also be altered to include Saturdays and Sundays: Provided, that employees who work on such days may choose a compensatory day-off during weekdays, provided that Saturday and Sunday are regular workdays and not cases of overtime.
4. Heads of departments, offices and agencies are enjoined to schedule at their preferred time the conduct of flag-raising ceremony every Monday, or the next working day if Monday is declared a holiday or non-working holiday, and flag-lowering ceremony to be attended by available employees every Friday or the last working day of each week.
5. Agencies shall formulate their internal rules in the implementation of the flexible working hours.
6. Any work beyond forty (40) hours a week shall be subject to overtime pay or compensatory time-off as may be authorized by the head of department office or agency in accordance with the provisions of CSC-DBM Joint Circular No. 2, s. 2015 dated November 25, 2015.
7. An evaluation report on the adoption of the flexible working hours by the department, office and agency shall be submitted to the Civil Service Commission within six (6) months after the start of its implementation.
This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately. EcTCAD
(SGD.) ALICIA DELA ROSA-BALAChairperson
ATTACHMENT
CSC Resolution No. 1901335