DOLE readies inputs on Senate’s proposal to reduce holidays

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

In a press briefing Friday, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma acknowledged Escudero’s concern of too many holidays affecting the productivity of industries. (File Photo: Jerome Sajise, DOLE/IPS via Department of Labor and Employment – DOLE/Facebook)

MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is ready to provide inputs on the proposal of Senate President Francis Escudero to lessen the number of the country’s holidays.

In a press briefing Friday, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma acknowledged Escudero’s concern of too many holidays affecting the productivity of industries.

“Ang pagkakaroon ng maraming holiday ay ina-associate ng ating mga employers sa epekto sa productivity at sa karagdagang gastusin; kung magagawa sya ng… sa regular (na araw), syempre mas nanaisin ng employers yan (Having many holidyas is associated with productivity issues and additional costs for employers. Of course, employers would prefer to have work done on regular days),” he said.

He, meanwhile, said workers also deserve a break during holidays.

“Dapat din magre-charge kayo eh. Bigyan ng tamang schedule ang manggagawa para ma-avail nila yung kanilang bakasyon (We just do not want excessive holidays. (Workers should also recharge) because that is also part of addressing work-life quality. Nakakapagbakasyon ka kasi meron din such thing as burnout. Dapat me holiday din kayo na naka-schedule din unless very crucial na pumasok kayo ng holiday ang katumbas naman don dapat bigyan kayo ng (You should also take a vacation because there is a such a thing as burnout. You should also have a scheduled holiday unless it’s very crucial that you work on a holiday. But in return, you should get a) premium pay,” he said.

The country has 10 legal holidays — New Year’s Day (Jan. 1); Maundy Thursday (varies every year) Good Friday (varies every year); Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9); Labor Day (May 1); Independence Day (June 12); National Heroes Day (last Monday of August); Bonifacio Day (Nov. 30); Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and Rizal Day (Dec. 30).

Islam’s two major holidays — Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha — are regular holidays pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 9177 and RA 9849, respectively.

Under Proclamation 368 signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in October last year, there are eight special non-working days for 2024 — Chinese New Year (Feb. 10); Black Saturday (March 30); Ninoy Aquino Day (Aug. 21); All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1); All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2); Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (Dec. 8); Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31).

Escudero said the Senate has earlier agreed to review the number of holidays which he said is affecting productivity.

Holiday revision unnecessary

Federation of Free Workers (FFW) president Sonny Matula said there is no need for a new law to reduce holidays since employers have the option to require workers to work on a holiday, provided they pay a premium for the work done on that day.

“The way we see it, the proposal to reduce holidays seems to be more about avoiding the payment of these premiums under the guise of maximizing productivity when, sa totoo lang (to be honest), it is a camouflage to maximize profit at the expense of wage premium that workers are enjoying during holidays,” he said in a statement.