What’s the Difference Between a Regular and Special Holiday?

The other day, people got disappointed when they learned that November 1 is going to be a no work, no pay holiday. In the Philippines, there are only two kinds of holidays: regular holidays, and special non-working holidays. What’s the difference between the two? And why is there such thing as a “no work, no pay” holiday? Should we all just go to work and get paid?

What is the difference between a regular holiday and a special non-working holiday?

The difference between a regular holiday and a special non-working holiday is just the rate of pay you receive if you work on that day.

If your employer asks you to work on a regular holiday, you will be paid 200 percent of your daily rate and cost of living allowance. For example, if your daily rate and cost of living allowance is P2,000, you will be paid P4,000 if you work on a regular holiday.

On the other hand, if your employer asks you to work on a special non-working holiday, you will be paid 130 percent of your daily rate and cost of living allowance. For example, if your daily rate and cost of living allowance is P2,000, you will be paid P2,600 if you work on a special non-working holiday.

What if I work overtime on a holiday?

If you are asked to work for more than eight hours on a holiday (whether regular or special non-working) or on your rest day, you are entitled to additional compensation equivalent to the hourly rate of the first eight hours on a holiday or rest day, plus 30 percent of that rate. So if your hourly rate for the first eight hours is P250, you will earn an additional P75 for every hour you work overtime.

But what if the holiday falls on my official rest day?

If you’re asked to work on A holiday which falls on your official rest day, you are entitled to an additional compensation of at least 50 percent of your regular wage. Hence, you will be paid 250 percent of your daily rate on a regular holiday, and 180 percent of your daily rate on a special non-working holiday, only if that holiday falls on your scheduled rest day and you are asked to go to work.

Do I get paid if I don’t work on a holiday?

It depends. For special non-working holidays, you don’t get paid if you don’t work on that day, more commonly known as the principle of “no work, no pay.” That is unless there is a favorable company policy that grants payment on special holidays.

On the other hand, your employer is required to pay you 100 percent of your daily rate even if you don’t work on a regular holiday, and even if that holiday falls on a rest day or weekend.

Source: Labor Code of the Philippines / Department of Labor and Employment