News Briefs
Dole issues rules on holiday pay
The labor department reminded employers to pay the proper wage for workers who go on duty on New Year’s Day, a regular holiday. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued an advisory prescribing pay rules for Jan. 1.
If the employee did not work, he shall be paid 100 percent of his salary for the day.
If the employee reported for duty, he shall be paid 200 percent of his salary.
If an employee worked in excess of 8 hours (overtime), he shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate.
If the employee worked during a regular holiday that also falls on his rest day, he shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his basic wage of 200 percent. —TINA G. SANTOS
8 Pamatong followers nabbed
Eight supposed supporters of nuisance presidential candidate Elly Pamatong were arrested in Quezon City for inciting to sedition after they reportedly handed leaflets that called President Duterte a fake President.
The Quezon City police took into custody the eight people who all claimed to have ranks in the so-called United States Allied Freedom Fighters of the East, a group which Pamatong formed in 2003.
One of the leaflets, shown to the Inquirer on Sunday, was addressed to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Presidential Security Group Commander Col. Jose Eriel Niembra and Armed Forces chief Benjamin Madrigal Jr.
It was signed by Pamatong as “the new ruling President.” —JHESSET O. ENANO
Group raises howl over new Edsa plan
A road safety advocacy group has expressed concern over a plan by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to push for a solution to fit in more cars on overcrowded Edsa.
“We doubt this ‘road diet’ scheme will solve the traffic problem on Edsa,” the Road Users Protection Advocates (Rupa) said in a statement.
The group expressed fear that this scheme would worsen traffic in the very busy thoroughfare instead.
Rupa said the road diet solution had always been on our roads for a long time now without it being officially recognized.
This happens at choke points along Edsa where official four-lane roads become five lanes with vehicles squeezing in and pushing each other for space, said Ray Junia, chair of Rupa.
