Employees who will work on Dec. 25, 31, and Jan. 1 to get double pay

Employees who will report for work on Christmas Day, Rizal Day, and New Year’s Day will receive 200 percent of their regular daily rate, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE). In an advisory posted on its Web site, the DoLE said December 25 and 30, 2007, and January 1, 2008 are regular holidays. The agency said that if an employee will not report for work during the said dates, he will still be paid 100 percent of his regular daily rate. Meanwhile, for December 24 and 31, the DoLe said that if employees do not work on these dates, there will be “no pay unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement grating payment of wages on special days even if “ no work was rendered. If the employee works on December 24 and 31, he will be paid 130 percent of his regular daily rate in the first eight hours. If he works in excess of eight hours, he will be paid an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate. If December 24 and 31 fall on the employees’ rest days, he will be paid 150 percent of his regular daily rate. The DoLE issued the directive based on Proclamation Nos. 1211 and 1353 issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Jan. 10, 2007, and Aug. 6, 2007 respectively in relation to Republic Act No. 9492 or The Act Rationalizing The Celebration of National Holidays. - AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV