DOLE reminds employers of holiday pay on Chinese New Year, People Power anniversary holidays

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday reminded private sector employers of the proper wages for those who will work during the declared holidays in February.

The DOLE’s Labor Advisory No. 2, series of 2021 prescribes the proper payment of wages for the declared Special (Non-Working) Days on February 12 in line with the celebration of the Chinese New Year and on February 25, the commemoration of the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

President Rodrigo Duterte has issued Proclamation No. 986 on July 30, 2020, which sets February 12 and 25, 2021 as special non-working holidays.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III reminded that employees who will report to work on the said holidays shall be paid an additional 30% of their basic wage in the first eight hours.

Their basic wage shall be multiplied by 130% plus COLA or cost of living allowance.

However, if employees did not work, the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day.

If the workers had rendered their duty in excess of eight hours, they would be paid an additional 30% on their hourly rate.

While for work done during a special day that also falls on the workers’ rest day, they shall be paid an additional 50% of their basic wage on the first eight hours of work, and if done in excess of eight hours or overtime work, they shall be paid an additional 30% of their hourly rate.

“Thus, the computation will be ‘hourly rate of the basic wage x 150% x 130% x number of hours worked,” the DOLE said.—Ted Cordero/AOL, GMA News