Workers get pay on Muslim holiday
Quezon City (23 October) -- Workers are entitled to compensation on October 24, a regular holiday in observance of Eid'l Fitr regardless of whether they report for duty or not, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The DOLE released the guidelines for employees' compensation during the holidays, and Labor Secretary Arturo Brion reminded employers of the need to follow them.
Based on the guidelines, an employee will receive regular compensation even if he or she does not report for work on that day, and even if this day is his or her work day or rest day.
If the day is a regular workday and the employee reports for duty, he or she is entitled to 200 percent of his or her regular wage. If he works over eight hours, he should receive the hourly rate for that day, which is 200 percent of his regular wage divided by eight, plus 30 percent of that hourly rate.
But if the holiday falls on the worker's rest day and he still reports for duty, he should receive 260 percent of his regular wage. For overtime work, he should get the hourly rate, which is 260 percent of his regular wage divided by eight, plus 30 percent of that rate.
President Macapagal Arroyo declared October 24 a holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid'l Fitr, which is celebrated by the Muslim World at the end of the month of fasting, Ramadan.
Eid'l Fitr has been declared a regular holiday to promote cultural understanding and integration, and to give the Filipino nation the chance to join Muslims in the celebration. (PIA) [top]