Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday warned the Duterte administration that making November 2, December 24 and 31 as "special working holidays" would cut the take-home pay of thousands of workers. 

 Hontiveros said Malacanang should withdraw and reverse Proclamation No. 1107, which makes previously special non-working holidays Nov. 2 (All Souls’ Day), Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve), and Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve) special working holidays, as the order is "nothing short of disastrous for workers already dealing with a pandemic and an economic crisis." 

"While we understand the need to increase economic productivity, demoting special Filipino holidays to special working holidays will only burden and demoralize Filipino workers, many of whom are already underpaid and struggling with high prices of goods,” said Hontiveros.

 “This is rubbing salt on the people's wounds. Bakit aalisin ang pagkakataon para kumita ang mga kababayan natin ng extra, ngayong marami ang hirap sa buhay (Why deny workers the chance to earn extra money now that many are having a hard time?)” she lamented.

"Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, along with All Souls’ Day are some of the most important holidays for Filipino families throughout the year. What is the motivation to suddenly make them working holidays?’’ she added.

Hontiveros also noted that because of the proclamation, people who would go to work during All Soul's Day, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve this year would no longer be entitled to the additional holiday pay of 30 percent of their daily basic wage, among other amenities, granted to workers during special non-working holidays.

The lower pay during those holidays, Hontiveros said, might disincentivize and demoralize workers from reporting for duty, thus lowering economic productivity instead of increasing it, she pointed out.

This policy, I fear, will only be counterproductive and harmful for the workforce and the economy alike,’’ she added.