November 2, December 24 and 31 to remain ‘special working days’ in 2022

A worker wearing a face mask fixes a decoration shaped like the Eiffel tower next to others displayed for sale on a road in San Fernando, Pampanga province on October 6, 2020. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2), Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) will remain as “special working days” in 2022.

Under Presidential Proclamation No. 1236, which declares regular holidays and special non-working days, these dates were listed as special working days.

It was under Proclamation No. 1107, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this year, which downgraded the said dates to working days.

This move is to help “recover from the adverse economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic” by encouraging economic productivity and “minimizing work disruption and commemorating some special holidays as special working days instead.”

The distinction between the special working holiday and special non-working holiday is the rate of pay an employee will get should he or she decide to work on that specific day.

Based on the holiday pay rules issued by the Department of Labor and Employment, if an employee went to work on a special non-working holiday, the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply (unless there is a company policy granting payment on a special day), for which he shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his basic wage on the first eight hours of work.

For work performed on a special working holiday, an employee is entitled only to his basic rate. No premium pay is required since work performed on said days is considered work on ordinary working days.

EDV