Some 8.105 million Filipinos were considered as “overworked” in their primary jobs in 2015, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Based on the report on Decent Work in the Philippines, the PSA said this was a growth of 41.2 percent, or 2.363 million more than the 5.742 million recorded 20 years ago.
“Having more than the usual hours of work may interfere with the balance between personal life and work, may increase injury hazard risks, may signal an inadequate pay and, in the long term, may be a threat to workers’ physical and mental capacity to work. It may also be connected in the reduction of the productivity of workers,” the PSA noted.
In the Philippines decent work is measured according to working time, such as employed persons who worked for more than the prescribed 48 hours actually worked per week in both primary job and in all jobs.
Primary jobs, the PSA said, can be the one job of a person regardless of permanency and hours worked in the job.
In the case of more than one job, the primary job pertains to the employment that is permanent, regardless of hours worked; the job that requires more hours of work; or provides the most income.
“Decent work involves opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income, provides security in the workplace and social protection for workers and their families, and gives people the freedom to express their concerns, to organize and to participate in decisions that affect their lives,” the PSA quoted the International Labor Organization (ILO).
PSA data showed that, despite the decline in their number, there were more men that were deemed overworked in 2015 compared to 1995.
As a percent to total employed with excessive hours worked in a primary job, men accounted for more than half, or 53.8 percent, or 4.358 million of the total 8.105 million in 2015. The share in 1995 was at 59.1 percent.
Women, on the other hand, accounted for the remaining 46.2 percent (3.747 million) of the total. However, this was higher than the 40.9-percent share recorded in 1995.
Most of the country’s overworked employees came from the services sector. They now represent 80 percent of overworked employees, higher than the 66.1 percent posted in 1995.
While the agriculture and industry sectors had almost equal shares in 2015 at 10.1 percent and 10 percent, respectively, the share of agriculture sector was comparatively lower by 13.8 percentage points in 2015, from the 23.9 percent registered in 1995.
In terms of classification of the class of worker, more than half, or 52.6 percent, were wage and salaried employees.
Self-employed persons only accounted for 38.5 percent of the total in 2015, a decline of 6.3 percentage points from 44.8-percent share in 1995.
“This is an increase of 9.1 percentage points from the 43.5 percent share in 1995,” the PSA said.
“The shares of unpaid family workers and employers in 2015 posted minimal shares of 5.8 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively,” it added.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano