The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reminded private sector employers on Friday, Nov. 28, to strictly observe wage regulations this December to ensure workers receive proper compensation during the holiday season.

DOLE’s advisory outlines Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception; Dec. 24, Christmas Eve; and Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve as special non-working days.

Dec. 25, Christmas Day, and Dec. 30, Rizal Day, are regular holidays that form part of the year-end celebrations.

Under labor rules, employees who do not report for work on special non-working days are not entitled to pay unless company policy, established practice, or collective bargaining agreements provide otherwise.

For employees reporting for duty on these dates, the law provides an additional 30 percent of the basic wage for the first eight hours.

Work rendered beyond eight hours must be compensated with an extra 30 percent of the hourly rate.

When a special non-working day falls on an employee’s rest day, the first eight hours of work must be paid an additional 50 percent of the basic wage.

Overtime on such days is further compensated at an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate.

The advisory added that employees who do not work on regular holidays are entitled to 100 percent of their daily wage, provided they were present or on paid leave on the workday immediately preceding the holiday.

Employees who report for duty on a regular holiday are entitled to 200 percent of their daily wage for the first eight hours.

Beyond eight hours of duty on a regular holiday, employees are entitled to an added 30 percent of the hourly rate.

A regular holiday that falls on a rest day further increases the pay rate, granting employees an additional 30 percent of the 200 percent holiday pay.

Meanwhile, additional hours rendered beyond the first eight on a regular holiday that falls on a rest day are paid with an extra 30 percent of the hourly rate, as provided under DOLE guidelines.