DOLE issues holiday pay rules for Holy Week 2026, Araw ng Kagitingan

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday issued the holiday pay guidelines for the Holy Week and Araw ng Kagitingan.

Under Labor Advisory No. 5, series of 2026, the DOLE reminded private employers to properly compensate workers who would report for duty on April 2 (Maundy Thursday), April 3 (Good Friday), April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan) – which are considered regular holidays – and April 4 (Black Saturday), which is a special non-working holiday. 

For the regular holidays, the DOLE said the computation for the proper compensation is as follows:

Regular Holidays: April 2 (Maundy Thursday), April 3 (Good Friday), and April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan)

• If the employee does not work, the employer shall pay 100% of the employee’s wage for that day, provided that the employee reports to work or is on leave of absence with pay on the day immediately preceding the regular holiday. Where the day immediately preceding the regular holiday is a non-working day in the establishment or the scheduled rest day of the employee, he or she shall be entitled to holiday pay if the employee reports to work or is on leave of absence with pay on the day immediately preceding the non-working day or rest day (Basic wage x 100%);
• For work done during the regular holiday, the employer shall pay a total of 200% of the employee’s wage for that day for the first eight hours (Basic wage x 200%);
• For work done in excess of eight hours, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30% of the hourly rate on the said day (Hourly rate of the basic wage x 200% x 130% x number of hours worked);
• For work done during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30% of the basic wage of 200% (Basic wage x 200% x 130%); and
• For work done in excess of eight hours during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30% of the hourly rate on said day (Hourly rate of the basic wage x 200% × 130% x 130% x number of hours worked).

Special (Non-Working) Day: April 4 (Black Saturday)

• If the employee does not work, the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day;
• For work done during the special day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30% of the basic wage on the first eight hours of work (Basic wage x 130%);
• For work done in excess of eight hours, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30% of the hourly rate on the said day (Hourly rate of the basic wage x 130% x 130% x number of hours worked);
• For work done during the special day that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 50% of the basic wage on the first eight hours of work (Basic wage x 150%); and
• For work done in excess of eight hours during the special day that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30% of the hourly rate on the said day (Hourly rate of the basic wage x 150% x 130% x number of hours worked).

In September, Malacañang released the list of regular holidays and special non-working days for 2026 through Proclamation 1006. — JMA, GMA Integrated News