Malacañang has declared MARCH 22, Black Saturday, as a special non-working holiday nationwide.
PGMA said in her proclamation issued last March 13 “The observance of the Holy Week is one of our people’s most cherished traditions,”
According to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Proclamation No. 1471 has been issued to allow uninterrupted observance this Holy Week. The proclamation states that “our people must be given full and uninterrupted opportunity to ponder on the significance of the Holy Week and to properly observe its traditions with religious fervor, without prejudice to public interest.”Meanwhile, Acting DOLE Secretary Marianito D. Roque said Proclamation 1471 would allow the people to observe Holy Week without interruption in view of an earlier presidential directive, which also declared March 20, Maundy Thursday and March 21, 2008, Good Friday as regular holidays nationwide.
Secretary Roque said the following shall apply on the observance of the special nonworking day on March 22, and the two regular holidays on March 20 and 21:
1. For regular holidays on March 20 and 21, workers should be paid 100 percent of their regular salary for that day if it is the workers’ regular workday and the day is unworked. If worked, 200 percent shall apply on the first eight hours, and in excess of eight hours, plus 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day. If the day falls on an employee’s rest day and is unworked, 100 percent shall apply but if worked, plus 30 percent of 200 percent shall apply, and in excess of eight hours, plus 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day.
2. For the special day, the no work, no pay policy shall apply if the day is unworked unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day even if the day is unworked. If worked, plus 30 percent of the employee’s daily rate of 100 percent shall apply on the first eight hours of work, and in excess of eight hours, there will be an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day. If the day falls on the employee’s rest day and is worked, plus 50 percent of the daily rate of 100 percent shall apply on the first eight hours of work, and in excess of eight hours, plus 30 percent of the hourly rate.