By NELJOY N. GALIGAO
ILOILO City – Employers across Western Visayas have been warned against underpaying workers during the November holidays. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ordered strict compliance with mandatory wage rates, including double pay for employees working on Bonifacio Day.
Under Labor Advisory No. 18, Series of 2026, private-sector employers must observe the prescribed holiday pay rates for All Saints’ Day on November 1, All Souls’ Day on November 2, and Bonifacio Day on November 30.
DOLE Region 6 reminded employers, business managers and payroll administrators to ensure accurate wage computations to prevent violations of labor standards.
November 1 and 2 are classified as special non-working days, while November 30 is a regular holiday, with different compensation rules applying to each.
For All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, employees who report for work are entitled to 130 percent of their basic daily wage for the first eight hours.
Those required to work overtime must receive an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate for the holiday.
Employees whose scheduled rest day coincides with either special non-working day are entitled to 150 percent of their basic wage for the first eight hours, with an additional 30 percent premium for overtime work.
However, the “No Work, No Pay” principle applies to employees who do not report for duty on November 1 and 2, unless a company policy, established practice or collective bargaining agreement provides otherwise.
Higher compensation rates apply on November 30, when the country commemorates Bonifacio Day.
Employees who work on the regular holiday must receive 200 percent of their basic daily wage for the first eight hours, equivalent to double pay.
Those who render overtime work are entitled to an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate for the holiday.
If Bonifacio Day coincides with an employee’s scheduled rest day, the worker must receive 260 percent of the basic daily wage for the first eight hours, with another 30 percent premium for overtime.
Eligible employees who do not report for work on November 30 are still entitled to 100 percent of their basic daily wage, provided they reported for duty or were on paid leave on the workday immediately preceding the holiday.
If the preceding day is a scheduled rest day or an establishment-wide non-working day, employees remain entitled to holiday pay if they worked or were on paid leave on the last working day before it./PN
