Workers get holiday pay today

MANILA, Philippines — Today, workers nationwide may opt to enjoy another rest day or choose to get extra pay, an official said yesterday.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said since today is a regular holiday, workers of private establishments may not report to work and still be paid their daily pay.

Under pay rules for regular holidays, Bello said, workers who did not report shall be paid 100 percent of their daily salary.

“For work done during the regular holiday, the employee shall be paid double or 200 percent of his or her regular daily salary for the first eight hours of work,” Bello said.

Workers who will go on overtime or render services for more than eight hours shall get an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate, he said.

Workers whose rest day falls on a regular holiday, but were required to work shall be paid an additional 30 percent on top of the 200 percent for the first eight hours of their service.

For work done in excess of eight hours during the worker’s rest day, Bello said, he or she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate.

Bello said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued the necessary advisory to guide employers on the proper pay rules for today.

Malacañang earlier declared April 9 as a regular holiday in observance of Araw ng Kagitingan, formerly Bataan Day.

DOLE said employers must comply with the proper payment of wages to avoid penalties.