The May 1 Labor Day holiday will be observed on Thursday.
Unlike other holidays that were moved to Mondays, May 1 is not covered by the so-called “holiday economics” of President Arroyo as a way of giving workers the opportunity to observe Labor Day.
Proclamation 1463, signed by Arroyo, provides that Labor Day will still be celebrated on May 1, which falls on Thursday. Earlier, Arroyo signed Republic Act 9492, which moves holidays and traditional non-working days to the nearest Monday to give workers a long vacation and promote local tourism.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, however, said that Labor Day is an exception to the holiday economics.
The Department of Labor and Employment said that workers who report to work on May 1 are entitled to receive 100 percent additional pay.
In observance of the Labor Day, workers have prepared different activities to show the plight of the labor sector in the country. Thousands of workers from various labor groups are expected to converge at the Lapu-Lapu Convention Center for a gathering. — Wenna A. Berondo/MEEV