DOLE to employers: adjust workers’ pay on 2 august holidays

The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) reminds employers about the proper computation of the pay of employees who will report to work on Ninoy Aquino Day (Aug. 21) and National Heroes’ Day (Aug. 31).

This year, President Marcos has proclaimed Ninoy Aquino Day a special nonworking day to commemorate the martyrdom of the late. Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., following a lukewarm official observance in the past four years of his term.

Aquino, a critic of the President’s father and namesake, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, was assassinated on his return to Manila on Aug. 21, 1983, after three years of self-exile in the United States.

In an advisory, Dole said the “no work, no pay” policy will apply on Aug. 21.

But an employee will be paid an additional 30 percent of the basic wage for eight hours of work and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate in excess of those eight hours on Aug. 21, the agency said.

If that day coincides with the employee’s rest day, he will enjoy an additional 50 percent of his basic wage for eight hours of work, and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate for overtime work.

On Aug. 31, a regular holiday, an employee who will not work on that day is entitled to 100 percent of the daily wage if he reports to work or is on paid leave on the day immediately preceding the holiday, according to Dole.

An employee will be paid 200 percent of their wage for eight hours of work and will have an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate for overtime work.

If the employee comes to work on his rest day on Aug. 31, he will enjoy an additional 30 percent of the basic wage of 200 percent for eight hours of work, and an additional 30-percent hourly rate for overtime work.

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In 2022, the President did not issue any commemorative statement for Ninoy Aquino Day in a break with tradition. The following year, he called for unity on that day and expressed his wish to “transcend political barriers.”

In 2024, the President did not issue any message, but instead moved the observance of Ninoy Aquino Day from Aug. 21 to Aug. 23 to make way for a longer weekend as part of tourism promotion.

Last year, Mr. Marcos issued a conciliatory statement to mark the occasion, without making any reference to the protests triggered by Aquino’s assassination that culminated in the 1986 People Power revolt that ended his father’s rule.

Instead, he underscored how the observance should serve as an “invitation to govern with sobriety, conscience, and foresight.” —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH