A Special Working Holiday in the Philippines is a holiday that is treated as a regular working day. This means employees who work on these days are paid their normal daily wage without any additional premium pay mandated by law. If employees do not work on a special working holiday, they are not entitled to any pay for that day unless company policies or agreements provide otherwise
Key Characteristics of Special Working Holidays:
- Considered regular working days.
- No mandatory additional pay for employees who work on these days.
- Employees who do not work on these days generally receive no pay.
- Employers may, at their discretion, offer incentives or compensatory time off, but this is not required by law.
- The primary purpose is to promote economic productivity by minimizing work disruptions on days that have historical or cultural significance.
Examples:
- The 39th EDSA People Power Anniversary on February 25, 2025, was declared a special working holiday
Comparison with Other Holidays:
Holiday Type| Pay if Worked| Pay if Not Worked
---|---|---
Regular Holiday| 200% of daily wage| 100% of daily wage
Special Non-Working Holiday| 130% of daily wage| No pay (No work, no pay)
Special Working Holiday| 100% of daily wage| No pay (No work, no pay)
Thus, special working holidays allow businesses to continue operations normally while recognizing the holiday without the financial burden of premium pay
. In summary, a special working holiday is a holiday observed as a normal workday with no additional pay benefits, aimed at balancing commemoration with economic productivity.
