January 23, 2012 Chinese New Year Holiday Pay Rules

Filipinos would be marking the first holiday of 2012 in two weeks. For the first time in Philippine history, Chinese New Year, which falls on January 23, will be observed as a special non-working holiday. This is by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 295, signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa November 24 of last year. Since January 23 is a Monday, this effectively gives students and most Filipino employees a three-day weekend.

January 23, 2012 falls on a Monday - effectively giving Filipinos a three-day weekend

Proclamation 295 notes that the Chinese New Year, also referred to as Spring Festival, is “one of the most revered and festive events” celebrated not only in China but also in the Philippines “by both Chinese Filipinos and ordinary Filipinos.” The decree seeks to “manifest the Filipinos’ solidarity with the Chinese-Filipino community.” Download President Benigno Aquino III’s Proclamation 295 here.

President Benigno Cojuangco Aquino III is a fifth generation descendant of Chinese immigrant Xu Yuhuan (or Jose Cojuangco). He was a trader in Fujian, China before sailing to the Philippines in 1850s. The late Philippine leader Corazon Aquino made international headlines in 1988 when she became the first head of state to embark on a ‘roots-tracing’ trip to her ancestral hometown, the village of Hongjian in southeastern China. Read more about this from Xinhua.net.

Corazon Aquino visited the Cojuangco's ancestral hometown in Hongjian, China in 1988

Being just a special non-working holiday, Filipino employees are not entitled to a double pay if they opt to report for work on that day.  According to rules set by the Department of Labor and Employment, they will instead get their regular hourly rate plus an additional of 30% for the first eight hours of work.

Working beyond eight hours on the said day would entitle them to an additional pay of 30%. Legally speaking, those who will choose not to work on January 23 will not get any pay “unless there is a favorable company policy…granting payment of wages on special days even if unworked.” This commonly depends on an employee’s status (contractual/probationary/non-permanent workers are usually not paid on special non-working days).

Lastly, employees who will work on January 23 despite it being their scheduled rest day must get their entire regular pay plus an additional of 50% for the first eight hours of service rendered. They will get 150% more if they work beyond eight hours. Advanced Kung Hei Fat Choi, everyone!

About Author

Comments

comments

Mark Pere Madrona

The Filipino Scribe (TFS) is managed by Mark Pere Madrona, a multi-awarded writer and licensed professional teacher from the Philippines. Mr. Madrona earned his master’s degree in history from the University of the Philippines-Diliman last 2020. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in journalism cum laude from the same university back in 2010. His area of interests includes Philippine journalism, history, and politics as well as social media. Know more about him here: https://www.filipinoscribe.com/about/.

7 thoughts on “January 23, 2012 Chinese New Year Holiday Pay Rules

  1. Today, I went to the beach front with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!|

  2. Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog? My blog is in the exact same niche as yours and my visitors would really benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Many thanks!|

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.