DOLE clarifies: Dec. 26, Jan. 2 are not holidays for private sector

To employees in the private sector: be sure to report for work on December 26 and January 2 as these are not holidays.

The Department of Labor and Employment on Friday made the clarification as Filipinos prepare to celebrate the Christmas season this weekend.

“Let us be clear that December 26, 2017 and January 2, 2018 are special non-working days, but only for the executive branch of government,” said labor secretary Silvestre Bello III.

He stressed that since the two days mentioned are not holidays, employees in the private sector must report for work on the days after Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

“The private sector is not covered by the declaration,” Bello said.

Likewise, Bello stressed that Malacañang’s Memorandum Circular No. 37 does not cover the legislative and judiciary branches of government.

Based on the memorandum, work in government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges, local governments units, and other agencies and instrumentalities would be suspended on December 26 and January 2.

“It is already up to them (legislative and judiciary branches of government) if they will make a similar declaration,” Bello said.

Earlier, December 25 (Christmas Day), December 30 (Rizal Day) and January 1 (New Year’s Day) were declared regular holidays, while December 31 (New Year’s Eve) was declared a special non-working day.                 /kga