The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued its first labor advisory this year to remind employers the proper payment of wages for the additional special (non-working) day Friday, February 9, in celebration of the Chinese New Year throughout the country.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma issued Labor Advisory No. 1, Series of 2024 pursuant to Proclamation No. 453 issued by the Office of the President on January 18.
Based on the advisory, the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply to employees who will not work on the said day, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement granting payment on a special day.
Employees who will report for duty on February 9 must be paid an additional 30 percent of their basic wage on the first eight hours of work, or basic wage x 130 percent.
Those who will render overtime services must be paid an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate on the day, or hourly rate of the basic wage x 130 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked.
In case employees on their rest day report to work on February 9, they shall be compensated an additional 50 percent of their basic wage on their first eight hours of work, or basic wage x 150 percent.
Workers on day off but will render overtime service on said day shall be paid plus 30 percent of their basic wage, or hourly rate of the basic wage x150 percent x 13 percent x number of hours worked.
The Chinese New Year celebration this year is set on February 10. Malacañang said the inclusion of February 9 as a non-working day “will give the people full opportunity to celebrate Chinese New Year and enable our countrymen to avail of the benefits of a longer weekend.”*