Labor and Employment Acting Secretary Manuel G. Imson yesterday announced that December 25, 2003 and January 1, 2004 are regular holidays, while December 31, 2003 is a special non-working day.

"President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has also issued Proclamation No. 503 based on the Filipinos' time-honored tradition of celebrating Christmas with their families, relatives and friends with the rest of the world," Imson stressed.

The President had declared December 24, 2003, and January 2, 2004, as non-working days throughout the country. Under the Proclamation, the January 2 non-working day shall be in lieu of December 30, Rizal Day, in honor of the martrydom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the country's national hero.

The DOLE's Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) said that for December 24 and 31, the "no work, no pay" rule for special non-working days shall apply, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment of wages on such days even if unworked.

On the other hand, for January 2, 2004, the regular holiday pay rule granting 100 percent pay even if such day is unworked, shall be observed. This is because the January 2 non-working day substitutes for the regular holiday of Rizal Day on December 30, according to the BWC.

The regular holiday pay rule also applies for Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Exempted from the holiday pay rule are employees in the retail and service establishments regularly employing less than 10 workers, managerial employees, and field personnel.

Guidelines or clarifications concerning these rules may be obtained from the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) at telephone nos. 527-34-51 or 572-34-60. Look for the assigned BWC officer- of-the-day.

Imson said that Proclamation No. 503 had further given private sector employers, except those providing banking, financial, health, security, and other vital services to the public, the option not to require their employees to report for work on December 26 and 27, 2003, and January 3, 2004.

However, they are urged to make the necessary arrangements, in consonance with all existing labor laws, such as increasing work hours or allowing work on other days before and/or after the Christmas holidays, he said.

This is to ensure that daily paid workers are paid the equivalent of the wages or compensation they would have earned on these days, and that the production schedules of firms are met to maintain a continuous supply of goods and services needed by the public.

"On the other hand, Presidential Proclamation No. 503 has declared that all employees of government departments, offices, agencies or instrumentalities, shall not be required to report for work on December 26, except if required by the exigencies of public service," Imson said.