DOLE reminds employers on holiday pay

EMPLOYERS were reminded by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to heed pay rules for Holy Week. Based on Labor Advisory No. 4 signed by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, pay rules must be followed on April (Maundy Thursday) and April 2 (Good Friday), both declared as regular holidays, as well as for April 3 (Black Saturday), a special nonworking day.

However, Bello pointed out that establishments that are totally closed or have ceased operation during the community quarantine period are “exempted from the payment of holiday pay” on these dates.

For Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, an employee who did not work on these days shall still be paid 100 percent of his daily wage.

If the employee worked on these days, he shall be paid double his daily salary for the first eight hours.

Work done in excess of eight hours or overtime work on these days merits an additional 30 percent of one’s hourly rate.

If work done during a regular holiday falls on the worker’s rest day, he shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his basic wage of 200 percent.

For work done beyond eight hours during a regular holiday, the employee shall be paid 30 percent on top of his hourly rate.

For Black Saturday, the “no work, no pay” principle applies unless there is a company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement granting payment on a special day.

For work done on this special day, a worker shall be paid 30 percent more on top of his basic wage for the first eight hours of work.

Work done beyond eight hours merits an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate on said day.

For work done on a special day that also falls on one’s rest day, he shall be paid an additional 50 percent of his basic wage on the first eight hours of work.

In case of work done beyond eight hours during a special day that also falls on his rest day, he shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate on said day.