DOLE Speaks: An Urgency to Settle Delayed Holiday Pays to Employees

Going back to earlier months, because of the local coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, employers are permitted to indefinitely delay the payment of holiday pay tomorrow. In view of this, Employers can postpone holiday wages until the current emergency situation has been reduced and the establishment’s regular operations are in place.

Recently, The Department of Labor and Employment is ordering private businesses that have been able to delay paying the holiday salaries of their employees because of the pandemic to release these delayed wages by the end of the year.

Employers who have been allowed to delay payment of their employees’ holiday pay are expected to pay the deferred holiday pay equal to 100 percent of their regular wage to all covered employees,

Morever, the labor department permitted businesses to delay the payment of additional pay for Araw ng Kagitingan, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Labor Day, Eid’l Fitr, Independence Day, Eid’l Adha, Ninoy Aquino Day, National Heroes’ Day All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day until the current emergency situation has been reduced and the establishment’s regular operations are in place.

Consequently, Employees who have served on special non-working holidays are entitled to an extra 30% for their first eight hours of service, while those who have reported working on regular holidays are entitled to a double payout.

Filipino employees are expecting something especially for the coming months but those who have not registered to work during special non-working holidays shall not be entitled to additional pay unless otherwise stated by company procedure or a collective bargaining agreement. Those that have not served during normal holidays, however, are entitled to a full day’s pay.