DOLE reminds employers to pay proper November holiday wages

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reminded employers to provide proper wages to workers who report for work during November's declared holidays.

In an advisory, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma specified the proper computation of wages for the declared holidays of the month — the special non-working holiday November 1, and the regular holiday November 30.

November 1

• The “no work, no pay” principle will apply unless the company has a policy or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment for the day.
• Employees who report to work should be paid an additional 30% of the basic wage for the first eight hours of work.
• Overtime in excess of the first eight hours should be paid an additional 30% of the hourly rate for the day.
• Employees who report to work during their rest day should be paid an additional 50% of the basic wage for the first eight hours of work.
• Overtime in excess of the first eight hours should be paid an additional 30% of the hourly rate on the said day.

There is no premium pay required on November 2 since the day is considered an ordinary working day.

November 30

• Employees who do not report to work should be paid 100% of their wage for the day.
• Employees who report to work should be paid 200% of their wages for the first eight hours.
• Overtime in excess of the first eight hours should be paid an additional 30% of the basic wage of 200%.
• Overtime work for employees who report to work even on their rest day should be paid an additional 30% of the hourly rate on the said day.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte earlier declared November 2 a special working day, the second straight year that the date was not declared a holiday.

Then-Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. in 2020 said the decision not to declare November 2 — along with December 24, and December 31 — was arrived at due to the “long vacation” during the COVID-19 pandemic. — DVM, GMA News