Employers reminded of pay rules for Oct. 29,  Nov. 1 and 2 holidays

The Department of Labor and Employment has reminded employers to follow holiday pay rules for the October 29, November 1 and November 2 holidays.

Aside from October 29, Malacañang has also declared November 1 - All Saints’ Day, and November 2 - All Souls’ Day as special non-working days throughout the country.

President Arroyo declared October 29 last Monday as special non-working holiday to give voters time to participate in the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The other day, Labor and Employment Secretary Arturo Brion issued a clarification that by virtue of Proclamation No. 1211, which Arroyo issued on January 10, this year, the first two days of the month of November are also declared special non-working holidays.

He said this is to give the Filipino people more time to observe the time-honored tradition of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.

The labor department issued the clarification amid confusions on the three holidays and the pay rules that employers should follow.

Since these three days are special non-working holidays, DOLE said employees in the private sector are entitled to 30 percent additional pay on each day, or a total of 90 percent in all three days.

In this light, Brion reiterated to the country’s employers the rules applying on the nationwide special non-working days.

He explained that if the day is unworked, the “no work, no pay” policy shall apply unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day even if the day is unworked.

If the day, however, is worked, pay would be based on the employee’s daily rate plus 30 percent for the first eight hours of work, and for work in excess of eight hours, plus 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day, he said.

Further, if the day falls on the employee’s rest day and is worked, the employee’s daily rate plus 50 percent shall apply on the first eight hours of work, and for work in excess of eight hours, plus 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day.  — Wenna A. Berondo/MEEV