MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has reminded all employers to strictly observe the proper pay rules for employees working during the declared holidays this April.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma on Tuesday issued Labor Advisory 5, Series of 2026, to remind employers on the observance of four declared regular holidays next month, which include the Catholics traditional observance of the Holy Week.
The issuance, Laguesma pointed out, guaranteed workers of their rightful wages for regular holidays on April 2 (Maundy Thursday), April 3 (Good Friday), and April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan), and for the special (non-working) on April 4 (Black Saturday), pursuant to Proclamation 1006, Series of 2025.
For regular holidays, the advisory states that employees who do not work are entitled to 100 percent of their daily wage, provided they report to work or are on approved leave of absence on the workday immediately preceding the regular holiday (Basic wage x 100 percent).
When the day immediately preceding the regular holiday is a non-working day in the establishment or the employees' scheduled rest day, they shall be entitled to holiday pay if they worked or were on approved leave of absence with pay on the day immediately preceding the non-working day or rest day.
Employees who render work during the regular holiday shall receive 200 percent of their daily wage for the first eight hours (basic wage x 200 percent).
Should the employee perform work beyond eight hours, they shall be paid an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate for that day (Hourly rate of the basic wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked).
If the regular holiday falls on the employee’s rest day and work is rendered, the employee shall be paid an additional 30 percent of the 200 percent basic wage (Basic wage x 200 percent x 130 percent). Overtime work under the same conditions shall likewise be compensated with an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day (Hourly rate of the basic wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked).
For April 4 (Black Saturday), declared a special (non-working) day, the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply unless a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) grants payment on a special day.
If an employee reports for work during the special day, the employee is entitled to an additional 30 percent of their basic wage for the first eight hours (Basic wage x 130 percent).
Overtime work shall be paid 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).
Should the employee perform work on the special day that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay an additional 50 percent of the basic wage for the first eight hours of work (Basic wage x 150 percent). Overtime work under the same condition shall likewise be compensated with an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on that day (Hourly rate of the basic wage x 150 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked).
For clarifications, the public is advised to call the DOLE Hotline 1349, or coordinate with the DOLE Regional Office in their respective areas.
