- CHERYL G. CRUZ
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared Feb. 9 as a special nonworking day for the Chinese New Year celebration throughout the country.
In Proclamation 453 dated Jan. 18 but made public this afternoon, Jan. 19, Marcos said the declaration of Feb. 9 “as an additional special (non-working) day throughout the country will give the people the full opportunity to celebrate the Chinese New Year and enable our countrymen to avail of the benefits of a longer weekend”.
Marcos initially issued Proclamation No. 368, dated Oct. 11, 2023, declaring Feb. 10, 2024, a Saturday, as a special non-working day throughout the country, to celebrate the Spring Festival and usher in the Year of the Wood Dragon.
The Department of Labor and Employment mandates that the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply in the private sector during a special non-working day, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement granting payment on a special day.
Employees who will render work on a special non-working day shall be paid an additional 30 percent of their basic salary on the first eight hours, and another 30 percent of their hourly rate on said day if they work overtime.
For employees who will work on the special non-working day that also falls on their rest day, they shall be paid an additional 50 percent of their basic wage on the first eight hours, while those who will render overtime work shall be paid an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate, the DOLE added./CGC
