Workers to get overtime pay this Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines - Additional pay, if not a long holiday, awaits workers this Holy Week.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday reminded all employers to comply with the pay rules for the Holy Week.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the law mandates employers to provide their workers holiday pay if they would report for work on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

“If the employee worked, he/she shall be paid 200 percent of his/her regular salary for that day for the first eight hours,” Baldoz said, adding that 30 percent of hourly rate will still be given for those who extended their work.

Employees who will work during a regular holiday that also falls on their rest day shall be paid an additional 30 percent of daily rate, while employees who worked for more than eight hours during a regular holiday that also falls on their rest day shall be paid an additional 30 percent of hourly rate for that day.

Even if the workers chose not to report for work on March 28 and 29, Baldoz said, they shall be paid 100 percent of salary for those days.     

The DOLE chief also clarified that the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement granting payment on Black Saturday.

If the employee chooses to work on Black Saturday, a special non-working day, the employee will get an additional 30 percent of daily rate for the first eight hours of work.

If the employee worked for more than eight hours, the worker shall be paid an additional 30 percent of hourly rate for that day.

Employees who are required to work during a special day that also falls on their rest day shall be paid an additional 50 percent of daily rate for the first eight hours of work and another 30 percent in excess of the regular eight-hour schedule.