Lapu-Lapu Garment Workers Face Halved Workweek Amid Global Order Slump
More than 100 garment workers in Lapu-Lapu City are confronting a challenging start to the year as their workweek has been cut in half. A subcontractor operating within the Mactan Export Processing Zone (Mepz) 1 has reduced working days due to a significant decline in global orders. This drastic change impacts 105 employees, who now face a reduction from their usual six-day workweek to just three days, resulting in only half of their regular take-home pay.
The Schedule Reduction Details
The adjustments commenced on January 20 and are projected to continue until March 31, 2026. In a letter dated February 5, the company's management described this as a flexible schedule implemented to sustain business operations during a period of low global demand for apparel. Kim Francisco, the officer-in-charge of the City Public Employment Service Office (Peso), clarified that the company is adapting to survive in a tough market.
Their customer orders have slowed down, Francisco stated. That is why they need to adjust their working days due to the lack of orders. Instead of six days a week, the workweek has been reduced to just three days.
Financial Strain on Workers and Families
While the company strives to remain operational, the workers are enduring severe financial hardship. Losing three days of wages each week makes it exceedingly difficult for laborers to meet essential expenses such as food and rent.
The implication of this, of course, is lower pay, Francisco emphasized. They were supposed to earn income for the entire six days each week, but their income has been cut in half. It is not enough to support their family and daily living.
The management has not provided comments on whether alternative measures were considered to mitigate such a substantial wage loss for their staff.
Government Assistance Efforts
To support the affected workers during this difficult period, Peso has requested aid from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). Currently, the city is offering assistance in the form of five kilograms of rice and other basic necessities to help bridge the financial gap.
This situation underscores the vulnerabilities faced by export-oriented industries. Similar work reductions occurred in Mepz during the 2020 pandemic when global demand for electronics and clothing plummeted.
Future Outlook and Hopes for Recovery
The current reduced schedule is anticipated to conclude in late March. Officials are optimistic that global orders will rebound soon, enabling workers to resume a full six-day schedule and restore their complete income.
For now, these 105 families are anxiously awaiting stabilization in the global market, hoping that their full-time jobs and corresponding paychecks will return by April.
