LABOR DAY | May 1 2015 declared a national holiday
Filipinos nationwide will have a three-day weekend as the Philippines marks the annual celebration of Labor Day (or Araw ng Paggawa).
May 1 2015, which this year falls on Friday, has been declared a regular holiday throughout the country through Proclamation 831. President Benigno Aquino III signed Proclamation 831 last July 2014. Labor Day is the fifth national holiday for 2015, with the next one coming on June 12 for the Independence Day.
Because May 1 is a regular holiday, employees who report for work on this day should receive “100% of his/her minimum wage rate even if he/she did not report for work.” Stated differently, you should receive your daily salary in full even if you just stayed at home. This applies regardless of one’s employment status (regular, contractual, etc.).
Meanwhile, those who will report for work on May 1 should get 200% of their regular rate for every hour of service rendered, otherwise referred to as “double pay.”
(Credits: Inquirer.net)
To be able to avail of these benefits, employees are required to be present or should on leave of absence with pay on the work day immediately preceding the holiday.
TRIVIA: But why are we celebrating Labor Day every May 1? First of all, it must be noted that apart from the Philippines, many other countries around the world celebrate Labor Day during May 1.
According to various historical accounts, the celebration of Labor Day every May 1 is meant to commemorate the Haymarket Square incident that happened in Chicago, Illinois on May 4, 1886. On that day, about 3000 demonstrators gathered in that place to push for an eight-hour work day.
The protest went peacefully until a bomb exploded in the area where police officers were stationed. The bombing instantly killed one policeman and later on claimed the lives of seven others. In retaliation, the remaining police forces then went on to attack the demonstrators. Seven union leaders were tried and eventually hanged due to the incident.
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