Leaders of the country’s top business organizations have signaled openness to a lawmaker’s proposal for granting employees special or unscheduled breaks during severe heatwaves.

However, they stressed that the discretion for implementation should remain with employers.

Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr., president of the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), said that the suggested “heat breaks” should not be mandatory nor legislated.

His remarks were prompted by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III’s proposal for additional rest periods for workers during intense heat, coupled with the enforcement of occupational heat safety and health protocols.

While Pimentel cited the United Arab Emirates’ practice of allowing special breaks in extreme heat, Ortiz-Luis cautioned against introducing another labor law that could potentially be abused.

He noted that only workers exposed to prolonged sunlight are truly vulnerable and should benefit from these special breaks.

Jesus Arranza, chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), voiced support for granting special work breaks during high temperatures, underscoring management’s responsibility to protect workers.

However, Arranza emphasized the need for clear definitions regarding the types of work covered by the proposed labor polic