Workers to get pay on holiday weekends

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday reminded employers to provide additional pay for workers who would report for work during the two coming holiday weekends.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Malacañang has declared Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 as non-working holidays and therefore workers nationwide are entitled to receive extra pay.

Baldoz said that under the law, those who would report for work on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 are entitled to 130 percent of their daily rate for the first eight hours of work and another 30 percent for work performed in excess of eight hours.

Meanwhile, those who would choose to go on holiday and not work are not getting any payment, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment for special days.

If the day falls on the employee’s rest day, the employee would get 150 percent for the first eight hours and another 30 percent for work performed in excess of eight hours.

On Nov. 7, which has been declared as a regular holiday, workers are entitled to receive double of their regular pay if they would report for work, according to Baldoz.

“The employee is entitled to 200 percent of his basic wage on the first eight hours and 30 percent for work in excess of the eight hours,” Baldoz said.

She added that an employee is also entitled to 100 percent of the regular daily rate even if he would not work, provided he was present, or was on leave with pay, on the workday immediately preceding the holiday.

Those who are scheduled to take their day off but were asked to report for work must get 260 percent of their daily rate on the first eight hours, plus 30 percent for work in excess of eight hours.

In case the day immediately preceding the holiday is a non-working day in the establishment, or is the scheduled rest day of the employee, the employee shall not be deemed on leave of absence on that day, in which case he shall be entitled to the regular holiday pay, Baldoz said.