The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has released pay rules for Christmas Day and other holidays this December.

Christmas and New Year’s Eve, or December 24 and 31, are special non-working days, DOLE said, and the following pay guidelines should apply.

• The “no work, no pay” principle shall apply if the employee skips work unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement.
• For work done during the special day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the basic wage on the first eight hours of work.
• For work done in excess of eight hours, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day.
• For work done during the special day that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 50% of the basic wage for the first eight hours.
• For work done in excess of eight hours during the special day that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day.

Meanwhile, December 25, Christmas Day, and December 30, Rizal Day, are considered holidays, and the following pay rules apply.

If the employee does not work, the employer shall pay 100 percent of the employee’s wage for that day, provided that the employee reports to work or is on leave of absence with pay on the day immediately preceding the regular holiday.

• Where the day immediately preceding the regular holiday is a non-working day in the establishment or the scheduled rest day of the employee, he or she shall be entitled to holiday pay if the employee reports to work or is on leave of absence with pay on the day immediately preceding the non-working day or rest day.
• For work done during the regular holiday, the employer shall pay a total of 200 percent of the employee’s wage for that day for the first eight hours.
• For work done in excess of eight hours, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30% of the hourly rate on said day.
• For work done during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the basic wage of 200 percent.
• For work done in excess of eight hours during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day.