DOLE clarifies pay for recent holidays

Due to confusions on how the worker's pay would be computed during the recent holidays, the Labor Department issued a memorandum clarifying that August 28 (Sunday) was a regular holiday while August 29 (Monday) was a special non-working day, but only for the public sector and all schools. Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said last Tuesday that public employees are entitled to receive their regular pay even if they did not report to work during those days.

However, for private workers only August 28 was deemed a holiday, such that those who reported to work that day are entitled to receive 100 percent on top of their daily pay. But August 29 was an ordinary working day for them and that no premium will be added to their pay if they worked that day. Sto. Tomas earlier said August 28 was National Heroes Day but was a regular holiday even if it fell on a Sunday. But workers, businessmen, and students have complained about the late announcements of Malacañang over changes in the status of the holiday observations. - Wenna A. Berondo