DOLE reminds employers of holiday pay rules
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is reminding employers about the proper payment of wages on the five holidays in April.
DOLE released the rules through Labor Advisory No. 04, series of 2025, signed by Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.
The department issued the reminder ahead of the five holidays in April, specifically, regular holidays on April 1 in observance of Eid’l-Fitr, the Islamic holiday marking the end of Ramadan; April 9 for Araw ng Kagitingan; and April 17 and 18 for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
READ: Palace declares April 1 a regular holiday for Eid’l Fitr
April 19 — Black Saturday — was also declared a special non-working holiday.
According to DOLE, on the days declared as regular holidays, the following rules apply:
- If the employee does not work, the employer shall pay 100% of the employee’s wage for that day, provided that the employee reports to work or is on leave of absence with pay on the day immediately preceding the regular holiday.
- Where the day immediately preceding the regular holiday is a non-working day in the establishment or the scheduled rest day of the employee, he or she shall be entitled to holiday pay if the employee reports to work or is on leave of absence with pay on the day immediately preceding the non-working day or rest day (Basic wage x 100 percent).
- For work done during the regular holiday, the employer shall pay a total of 200 percent of the employee’s wage for that day for the first eight hours (Basic wage x 200 percent).
- For work done in excess of eight hours, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day (Hourly rate of the basic wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked).
- For work done during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the basic wage of 200 percent (Basic wage x 200 percent x 130 percent).
- For work done in excess of eight hours during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day (Hourly rate of the basic wage x 200 percent x 130 percent × 130 percent x number of hours).
Meanwhile, on a special non-working day, the following rules apply:
- If the employee does not work, the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day.
- For work done during the special day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the basic wage on the first eight hours of work (Basic wage x 130 percent).
- For work done in excess of eight hours, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day (Hourly rate of the basic wage x 130 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked).
- For work done during the special day that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 50 percent of the basic wage on the first eight hours of work (Basic wage x 150 percent).
- For work done in excess of eight hours during the special day that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day (Hourly rate of the basic wage x 150 percent × 130 percent x number of hours worked).
