DOLE reminds employers to pay holiday wages on Christmas, Rizal Day

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday reminded employers to pay proper wages to their employees who will work during Christmas on December 25 and commemoration of national hero Jose Rizal’s martyrdom on December 30.

DOLE's Labor Advisory No. 23, series of 2021, stated the proper payment of wages for declared regular holidays on December 25 and December 30 for the commemoration of national hero Jose Rizal’s martyrdom.

It states the following pay rules for December 25 and 30:

• The employee shall be paid double or an equivalent to 200% of the wage for the first eight hours [(basic wage + COLA) x 200%]
• If the employee did not work, the workers shall be paid 100% of the wage for that day [(Basic wage + COLA) x 100%]
• For overtime work, the worker shall be paid an additional 30% of the hourly rate on said day [hourly rate of the basic wage x 200% x 130% x number of hours worked]
• If an employee works on a regular holiday that also falls on a rest day, the worker shall be paid an additional 30% of the basic wage of 200% [(basic wage + COLA) x 200%] + [30% (basic wage x 200%)]

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• For overtime work on a regular holiday that also falls on a rest day, the worker shall be paid an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on the said day [hourly rate of the basic wage x 200% x 130% x 130% x number of hours worked]

“We remind companies and establishments in the private sector to observe the proper payment of wages to their workers this month,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a statement.

“It’s the duty of employers to provide the rightful wages and benefits entitled to their workers so that they can truly enjoy the spirit of Christmas with their families amid the pandemic,” he added.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte has issued Proclamation No. 1107 declaring December 24 and 31 as special working days.

The DOLE said a worker reporting for duty is entitled to receive his daily wage for the declared special working days on December 24 and 31.

“No premium shall be paid since those days are considered ordinary working days,” the labor department said.—AOL, GMA News