Dagdag na Night Shift Differential

ANG mga kababayang nasa trabahong mula gabi hanggang madaling araw o tinatawag na “graveyard shift” ay umaasang maisasabatas na sa lalong madaling panahon ang Senate Bill 2298 o “proposed Night Workers Additional Compensation Act” na iniakda ni Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada.

Unang-unang makikinabang sa naturang hakbangin ang humigit-kumulang na 1-milyong empleyado sa business process outsourcing (BPO) na ang pangunahing tungkulin ay “attending to the needs of the clients from the other side of the globe and are responding to uninter­rupted 24/7 operations.”

Base sa datos, “The BPO industry is the second largest source of foreign exchange in the Philippines, which currently contribute 10 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP)… the industry is on target to hit $25 billion in annual gross revenue by 2016, directly employing 1.3 million Filipinos and 3.2 million more in indirect employment.”

Ayon kay Jinggoy, “This measure intends to promote the interests and welfare of the night shift workers, including employees in the BPO sector. Night shift workers have a peculiar work program and arrangement which may adversely affect the health condition of the emplo-yees. With the additional benefits to night shift workers, it is hoped that it will lessen the financial and emotional stress of the employees.”

Alinsunod sa panukala:

The Labor Code prescribes that every employee shall be paid a night shift differential of not less than 10% of his regular wage for each hour of work performed between ten o’clock in the evening and six o’clock in the morning. Under Senate Bill 2298, the said rate is increased to 15% and the time window is changed to between eight o’clock in the evening and four o’clock in the morning.

Sabi pa ni Jinggoy, “Additional compensation should be granted in exchange for the foregone health and wellness benefits of following the ordinary and natural biological rhythm of the human body and the growing threat of criminal activities carried out in dead hours of the night.”