Philippines DOLE sets April holiday pay rules for employers and workers

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has reminded employers to observe proper pay rules for employees who report to work during declared holidays and special non-working days this April, following the issuance of Labor Advisory No. 5, Series of 2026.

Aligned with the directives of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to uphold workers’ rights and welfare, the advisory ensures employees receive their rightful wages for the regular holidays on April 2 (Maundy Thursday), April 3 (Good Friday), and April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan), as well as the special non-working day on April 4 (Black Saturday). The guidelines were issued pursuant to Proclamation No. 1006, Series of 2025.

Under the advisory, employees who do not work on a regular holiday are entitled to 100% of their daily wage, provided they report to work or are on approved leave with pay on the workday immediately preceding the regular holiday. 

If the day immediately before the holiday is a non-working day or rest day, employees will still be entitled to holiday pay if they worked or were on paid leave on the day before the non-working or rest day.

Employees who work during a regular holiday are entitled to 200% of their daily wage for the first eight hours, while work beyond eight hours must be paid an additional 30% of the hourly rate. 

If the regular holiday falls on the employee’s rest day and work is rendered, the employee is entitled to an additional 30% on top of the 200% holiday pay, with overtime work also compensated at an additional premium rate.

For Black Saturday (April 4), which is declared a special non-working day, the “no work, no pay” principle applies unless there is a favorable company policy or collective bargaining agreement providing payment. Employees who report to work on that day are entitled to 130% of their basic wage for the first eight hours, while overtime work is paid an additional 30% of the hourly rate.

If the special non-working day falls on the employee’s rest day and the employee works, the employer must pay 150% of the basic wage for the first eight hours, with overtime work receiving additional premium pay.

DOLE advised employers and employees to follow the pay rules and said the public may contact the DOLE Hotline 1349 or coordinate with DOLE regional offices for clarifications.