Question & AnswerQ&A (Commonwealth Act No. 444)
The legal working day shall be not more than eight hours daily.
No, the time during which the laborer is not working and can leave his working place and can rest completely shall not be counted.
Farm laborers, laborers who prefer to be paid on a piece work basis, domestic servants, persons in the personal service of another, and members of the family of the employer working for him are excluded.
Work beyond eight hours may be performed in case of emergencies such as serious accidents, fire, flood, typhoon, earthquake, epidemic, or other disaster or calamity to prevent loss of life and property or imminent danger to public safety; or for urgent work on machines, equipment, or installations to avoid serious loss or for similar just causes.
They shall receive compensation at the same rate as their regular wages or salary plus at least twenty-five percent additional.
Generally, work on Sundays and legal holidays is not allowed unless the employee is paid an additional sum of at least twenty-five percent of his regular remuneration, except for public utilities performing essential public services.
Public utilities providing gas, electricity, power, water, transportation, or communication services.
The Secretary of Labor can grant exemptions in the interest of the public or for justifiable reasons related to the organization or nature of the work or lack of competent laborers.
The employer or person having direct control and supervision over the work may be fined up to one thousand pesos, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
No, any such agreement or contract shall be null and void from the beginning (ab initio).
The Act took effect upon its approval on June 3, 1939.
Acts Numbered Forty-one hundred and twenty-three and Forty-two hundred and forty-two of the former Philippine Legislature were repealed.