Extra pay for workers this Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines - The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) yesterday reminded employers to provide holiday pay to those who will work during the Holy Week.

Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are regular holidays. Black Saturday is a special non-working holiday.

Workers who would render services on these days will get extra pay.

Under the law, NWPC said, a worker who will report for work on Thursday and Friday is entitled to receive 200 percent of his basic salary for the first eight hours of work.

The worker will get another 30 percent on top of the 200 percent for work in excess of eight hours.

Those who would not work during regular holidays will receive their regular daily rate provided the employee was present or was on leave with pay on the workday immediately preceding the holiday.

If the holiday falls on the employee’s rest day but he/she was required to work, the employee will receive 230 percent of daily rate plus 30 percent for hourly rate on extra services.

Employees are entitled to 130 percent of their daily rate for the first eight hours of work, and to an additional 30 percent if they report for work on Saturday.

Workers are not entitled to any payment if they would choose not to work on Saturday unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement granting payment for special days.

If the special non-working day falls on the employee’s rest day, the employee is entitled to receive 150 percent of the employee’s regular daily rate for the first eight hours, plus 30 percent for work rendered in excess of eight hours.