Labor chief asks employers to pay correct wages

By: Jocelyn R. Uy - 10 years ago

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz enjoined employers to do their patriotic duty in observance of Independence Day on Thursday by paying workers the correct salaries and benefits.

“Paying workers the correct wages on June 12, Independence Day and a regular holiday, is not only good business practice, it is a patriotic duty,” Baldoz said in a statement from Geneva, Switzerland, where she is attending the 103rd International Labor Conference.

Baldoz reminded private companies to abide by the pay rules set for the work rendered on holidays.

June 12 has been declared a regular holiday by virtue of President Aquino’s Proclamation No. 665, Series of 2013, declaring the regular holidays, special non-working days and special holidays for 2014.

Baldoz earlier issued Labor Advisory No.06, Series of 2013, which enumerated the pay rules for the holidays observed this year.

Based on the advisory, employees who report for work during the regular holiday shall be paid 200 percent of their regular salary for that day for the first eight hours and an extra 30 percent of their hourly rate for work in excess of eight hours.

Those who did not render work are still entitled to receive 100 percent of their salary for that day.

For work done during a regular holiday that falls on their rest day, employees shall be paid an additional 30 percent of their daily rate of 200 percent plus 30 percent of their hourly rate for overtime work.

“Proper observance of all holiday pay rules strengthens decent work and builds productivity,” Baldoz said. “Voluntary labor standards compliance redounds to social protection and the competitiveness of business and industry.”