The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) on Tuesday issued guidelines on holiday pay for private sector workers during the upcoming Christmas season.

Under the DoLE’s labor advisory, the “no work, no pay” principle generally applies on 25 December, Christmas Day, a regular holiday. However, employees are entitled to holiday pay based on company policies, collective bargaining agreements, or other favorable arrangements.

For work on Christmas Day, employees will receive 200 percent of their basic daily wage for the first eight hours. For overtime work, they will receive 30 percent of the hourly rate on top of the 200 percent daily rate.

If Christmas Day falls on an employee’s rest day, they will receive 200 percent of the basic daily wage plus an additional 30 percent of the basic daily wage for the first eight hours.

For overtime work on Christmas Day that falls on a rest day, they will receive 30 percent of the hourly rate on top of the 200 percent daily wage plus an additional 30 percent of the basic daily wage.

Meantime, employees who do not work on Christmas Day but reported to work or were on leave with pay on the preceding day are entitled to 100 percent of their daily wage. If the day preceding Christmas Day is a non-working day or the employee’s rest day, they are entitled to holiday pay if they reported to work or were on leave with pay on the day immediately preceding the non-working day or rest day.

For work on 24 December — a special non-working day — employees will receive their basic daily wage plus 30 percent of the basic daily wage for the first eight hours. For overtime work on 24 December, they will receive 30 percent of the hourly rate on top of the basic daily wage plus 30 percent of the basic daily wage.

If 24 December falls on an employee’s rest day, they will receive their basic daily wage plus 50 percent of the basic daily wage for the first eight hours. For overtime work on 24 December that falls on their rest day, they will receive 30 percent of the hourly rate on top of the basic daily wage plus 50 percent of the basic daily wage.

The advisory provides detailed guidelines on holiday pay computations for various scenarios, ensuring that workers’ rights are protected during the holiday season.