DOLE reminds employers on pay guidelines for Holy Week holidays

MANILA, Philippines — With three regular holidays coming up in this year's Holy Week, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reminded employers Friday to observe the proper pay guidelines. DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque advised employers to follow the "lawful holiday pay rules" on Araw ng Kagitingan on April 6; Maundy Thursday April 9; and Good Friday, April 10. "April 6, 2009 (Monday) is a regular holiday nationwide in observance of the Araw ng Kagitingan, which honors the valor and heroism of the Filipinos in Bataan and Corregidor," he noted in an article on the DOLE website (www.dole.gov.ph). He said that while Araw ng Kagitingan is a regular holiday that falls on April 9, Presidential Proclamation 1699 dated Dec. 24 last year "moved" its celebration for 2009 to April 6. Roque said the proclamation in effect affirmed Republic Act 9492, which provides that holidays, except those which are religious in nature, are moved to the nearest Monday unless otherwise modified by law, order, or proclamation. The guidelines said that if the day is the employee's regular workday: • If worked, the employee is entitled to 200% of his [or her] basic wage for the first eight hours and, for work in excess of the 8 hours, an additional 30% of his or her hourly rate on the said day. • If unworked, the employee is entitled to 100% of his daily rate, provided he or she was present or was on leave with pay on the workday immediately preceding the holiday. If the day is the employee's rest day: • If worked, the employee is entitled, for the first 8 hours, to 200% of his or her daily rate plus 30% and, for work in excess of 8 hours, plus 30% of his or her hourly rate on the said day. • If unworked, the employee is entitled to 100% of his or her daily rate, provided he or she was present or was on leave with pay on the workday immediately preceding the holiday. Where the day immediately preceding the holiday is a non-work day in the establishment or the scheduled rest day of the employee, he or she shall not be deemed on leave of absence on that day, in which case he or she shall be entitled to the holiday pay. - GMANews.TV