DOLE to workers: Hefty pay or long weekend?

MANILA, Philippines - It’s that time of the year again when workers nationwide can either embark on a long weekend or go to work and receive holiday pay.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said workers can choose to enjoy three regular holidays starting this Thursday by having a vacation or reporting for work.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said those who would report for work on Maundy Thurday (April 5), Good Friday (April 6) and Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9) are entitled to double their daily basic pay.

If the holiday falls on an employee’s regular workday, Baldoz said the employers should pay the worker 200 percent of his basic pay for the first eight hours of work.

For work in excess of the eight hours, the employee is entitled to an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate, Baldoz added.

“If unworked, the employee is entitled to 100 percent of the regular daily rate, provided he was present, or was on leave with pay, on the workday immediately preceding the holiday,” she said.

But if the day falls on the employee’s rest day and the day is worked, he is entitled to 260 percent of his daily rate on the first eight hours, plus 30 percent for work in excess of eight hours.

Baldoz called on all private sector employers to always bear in mind the welfare and protection of their workers by observing the applicable pay rules and other core labor standards during the nationwide holidays.

She said President Aquino declared the three April days as regular holidays, thus workers are entitled to additional pay as provided under the law.