DOLE issues holiday pay rules for Eid’l Fitr

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued the pay guidelines for proper payment of wages for employees working during the observance of Eid’l Fitr on March 20, 2026.

DOLE released the pay rules through Labor Advisory No. 4, Series of 2026, signed by Labor Sec. Bienvenido Laguasma.

READ: Palace declares March 20, 2026 a regular holiday for Eid’l Fitr

According to DOLE, employers are mandated to pay 100 percent of the wages of their employees who will not be working during the said holiday, “provided they are on approved leave of absence on the day immediately preceding the regular holiday.”

“If the day immediately preceding the regular holiday is a non-working day in the establishment or the employee’s scheduled rest day, they shall still be entitled to holiday pay if they worked or were on approved leave of absence with pay on the day immediately preceding the non-working day or rest day,” DOLE said.

Meanwhile, those working during the holiday are entitled to double pay for the first eight hours of their shift—calculated as basic wage x 200 percent.

Those working overtime or beyond eight hours should then be paid an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate (calculated as hourly rate x 200 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked).

If Eid’l Fitr falls on an employee’s rest day and they choose to work, they are entitled to an additional 30 percent on top of their double pay (calculated as basic wage × 200 percent × 130 percent).  

Overtime work done on that day, will likewise render them an extra 30 percent of the hourly rate, computed as: hourly rate of the basic wage × 200 percent × 130 percent × 130 percent × number of hours worked.

“The Department remind[s] employers to comply with the prescribed pay rules to ensure the proper payment of wages for employees during declared holidays,” DOLE said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr or the end of the Feast of Ramadan.

This means all non-essential work, as well as classes are suspended on that date. /jpv