October 31 and November 1 special non-working days

CEBU, Philippines - October 31 and November 1 are special non-working days in observance of All Souls' and All Saints' Days.

In line with this, the Department of Labor and Employment-7 reminded employers to observe holiday pay rules.

"We know already that for special days, the principle of No Work, No Pay shall apply if the employee did not work. But that can be superseded when there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement granting payment on a special day," said DOLE-7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga.

He reminded employers to pay an additional 30 percent of the worker's daily rate for the first eight hours of work if the worker renders work during the special day. For work done in excess of eight hours or overtime work, the worker shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on said day.

 "Employers should exercise extra caution in their computations. It is because

there is another computation to be followed for work done during a special day which falls on the worker's rest day," Sarcauga said.

If that would be the case, he said, the worker has to be paid an additional 50 percent of his or her daily rate on the first eight hours of work.

For work done in excess of eight hours or overtime work during the special day, which likewise falls on the worker's rest day, the worker shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on said day.

"We urge the employers to religiously follow, familiarize with, and be guided by the guidelines on the payment of wages on holidays. When workers are given what is due to them, then they won't have any reasons to feel aggrieved and complain," he added.

In Region-7, the Cost of Living Allowance is already integrated with the prescribed daily minimum wage rate.

For Class A cities and municipalities or for Expanded Metro Cebu for instance, the minimum wage is P353. For cities and municipalities under Class B category, the minimum wage rate is set at P320.

Sarcauga said Toledo City and Bogo City and the rest of the municipalities in Cebu Province, except for Bantayan and Camotes islands, belong to the Class B category.

The cities and municipalities in the provinces of Bohol and Negros Oriental have a P310 daily minimum wage rate.

For Class D municipalities in Siquijor Province and the municipalities in Bantayan and Camotes Islands, workers should receive a P295 daily minimum wage. (FREEMAN)