Labor chief reminds firms on holiday pay

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. FILE PHOTO/Jay Morales/Malacañang Photo Bureau

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on Thursday reminded private sector employers to strictly adhere to holiday pay rules and core labor standards for their workers on August 20, 21 and 27.

“We owe it to our workers who will be required to report for work and, therefore, must receive the correct wages and benefits,” Baldoz said in a statement.

Malacañang has declared August 20 a regular holiday in observance of the celebration of Eid’l Fitr or Feast of Ramadan, the end of the Muslim community’s month of fasting. August 21 is a special nonworking day to commemorate Ninoy Aquino Day, while August 27 is a regular holiday to mark National Heroes Day.

The dates have been declared holidays by virtue of Proclamation Nos. 295 and 495, respectively.

“If the employee reports for work during a regular holiday, he shall be entitled to 200 percent of his regular salary for that day for the first eight hours, and for work in excess of the eight hours, an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate,” Baldoz said.

If the day falls on an employee’s rest day and he goes to work, he is entitled to 200 percent of his daily rate for the first eight hours plus 30 percent. For work in excess of eight hours on those days, he gets an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate.

“But, if the employee does not render work during a regular holiday, he shall be entitled to 100 percent of his salary for that day,” Baldoz said.

On the other hand, the labor chief explained that during a special nonworking day, the principle of “no work, no pay” applies “unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day.”