DOLE issues pay rules for 'Araw ng Kagitingan'

The Department of Labor and Employment on Friday has issued the pay rules for April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor), a regular holiday throughout the Philippines. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said April 9 marks the heroism of the country’s soldiers and veterans in Bataan and Corregidor during World War II. “President Benigno Aquino III, by virtue of Proclamation No. 84 he issued on 20 December 2010, had reaffirmed the observance of the Araw ng Kagitingan as a nationwide regular holiday," Baldoz said in a statement. She reminded employers to “ensure voluntary compliance with core labor standards for workers on this regular holiday day." According to the department, the following are the pay rules for a regular holiday: I. If the holiday falls on an employee’s regular workday: — If April 9, 2011 is worked, the employee is entitled to 200 percent of his or her basic wage on the first eight hours and, for work in excess of the eight hours, to an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on the said day. — But if unworked, the employee is entitled to 100 percent of the regular daily rate, provided he or she was present, or was on leave with pay, on the workday immediately preceding the holiday. II. If the day is the employee’s rest day: — If the day is worked, the employee is entitled on the first eight hours, to 200 percent of his or her daily rate plus 30 percent. — For work in excess of eight hours, an employee is entitled to plus 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on said day. — But if unworked, the employee is entitled to 100 percent of his or her regular daily rate, provided he or she was present, or was on leave with pay, on the workday immediately preceding the holiday. III. In case the day immediately preceding the holiday is a non-work day in the establishment, or is the scheduled rest day of the employee, the employee shall not be deemed on leave of absence on that day, in which case he or she shall be entitled to the holiday pay. — JE/JV, GMA News