BOC back to 8-to-5 work hours

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bocbiglogoThe Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) this month returned to its previous nine-hour work period except those in the frontline services, which will adopt a work timeframe that adjusts to the needs of their customers.

Under Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 24-2016 signed by Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, regular work hours in all offices are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays. This includes offices under the Office of the Commissioner and all ports and subports. The memo took effect on October 1.

CMO 24-2016 revokes CMO 33-2015, the order that implemented a 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and shifting work hours.

Faeldon said the new working hours is “in line with our policy to provide optimum service to the transacting public and to enhance trade facilitation and at the same time maximize the working hours of BOC employees.”

Exempt from the regular work hours are the Arrival Operations Division, Aircraft Operations Division, Piers and Inspection Division, Formal Entry Division, or equivalent units, and other units rendering frontline services, or those with face-to-face transactions with clients.

The district collectors, the CMO said, shall adopt work schedules for the exempted units that “ensure that all clients who are within their premises prior to the end of official working hours are attended to and served even during lunch break and after regular office hours.”

The district collectors may also consider providing frontline services from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., depending on the needs of the transacting public.

“The frontline services must at all times be complemented with adequate staff by adopting mechanisms such as rotation system among office personnel, sliding flexi-time, reliever system especially in peak times of the transaction, or providing skeletal personnel during lunch and snack time,” CMO 24-2016 stated.

Also exempt are personnel from the Intelligence Group and Enforcement Group performing field work or guard duty, whose work hours shall be governed by the order or detail issued to them. Corollary to this, lawyers performing legal services may also be exempted from the coverage of the regular work hours.

CMO 24-2016 noted that the deputy commissioner or district collector concerned should take responsibility for arranging the schedule of each staff not covered by regular work hours.

The shift schedule of those exempted cannot be occasionally or periodically changed without recommendation of the division/office chief and approval of the deputy/district commissioner.

To ensure no interruption of service during lunch break pursuant to the Anti-Red Tape Act, lunch breaks should be taken on shifting schedules, the CMO noted.

Employees required to render service beyond regular work hours in order to meet certain contingencies may collect overtime pay, subject to the provisions of CMO 14-2014, which provides the authority to render overtime services with pay for the rank and file.

In the same manner, work days may be altered to include Saturdays and Sundays.

“All district collectors are hereby directed to coordinate with the Arrastre Operator and other stakeholders of their respective ports in order to ensure full support on the working hours of their BOC personnel,” CMO 24-2016 said. – Roumina Pablo