Holiday Pay Rules in the Philippines (2026 Guide)
Understand how holiday pay works, who is covered, and how much you earn on regular and special holidays.
What Is Holiday Pay?
Holiday pay is the compensation a worker receives for any unworked regular holiday. Under the Labor Code of the Philippines, covered employees are entitled to their regular daily wage on regular holidays even if they do not report for work.
If an employee works on a regular holiday, they are entitled to at least twice their regular daily rate (200%) for the first 8 hours. Additional premiums apply for overtime, night differential, and when the holiday falls on a rest day.
Legal basis: Labor Code of the Philippines, Article 94 (Holiday Pay), Article 93 (Compensation for Rest Day, Sunday, or Holiday Work)
Regular Holidays vs. Special Non-Working Days
Regular Holidays
Regular holidays follow the "no work, pay" rule — employees receive 100% of their daily wage even without working. The Philippines has 12 regular holidays:
- New Year's Day (January 1)
- Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9)
- Maundy Thursday (movable)
- Good Friday (movable)
- Labor Day (May 1)
- Independence Day (June 12)
- National Heroes Day (last Monday of August)
- Bonifacio Day (November 30)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
- Rizal Day (December 30)
- Eid'l Fitr (movable)
- Eid'l Adha (movable)
Special Non-Working Days
Special non-working days follow the "no work, no pay" rule — employees are only paid if they actually work. When they do work, they receive an additional 30% of their daily rate.
- Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21)
- All Saints' Day (November 1)
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
- Last Day of the Year (December 31)
- EDSA People Power Anniversary (February 25)
- Chinese New Year (movable)
- Black Saturday (movable)
Who Is Covered?
Holiday pay applies to all employees in the private sector, regardless of employment status — regular, probationary, contractual, casual, or project-based.
Exemptions
- Workers in retail and service establishments regularly employing less than 10 workers
- Domestic workers (kasambahay) — governed separately by RA 10361
- Workers in establishments exempted by the Secretary of Labor through the proper application process
Holiday Pay Rates & Computation
The rate depends on the type of holiday and whether it falls on a rest day. Below is the complete multiplier table based on DOLE guidelines:
| Work Scenario | First 8 Hours | Overtime (per hr) | Night Diff OT (per hr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Day | 100% | 125% | 137.5% |
| Rest Day / Sunday | 130% | 169% | 185.9% |
| Special Non-Working Day | 130% | 169% | 185.9% |
| Special Day + Rest Day | 150% | 195% | 214.5% |
| Regular Holiday | 200% | 260% | 286% |
| Regular Holiday + Rest Day | 260% | 338% | 371.8% |
| Double Holiday | 300% | 390% | 429% |
| Double Holiday + Rest Day | 390% | 507% | 557.7% |
Holiday Pay = Daily Rate × Holiday Multiplier
For example, an employee with a daily rate of PHP 645 who works on a regular holiday receives PHP 645 × 200% = PHP 1,290 for the first 8 hours.
Compute Your Holiday Pay
Use our free calculator to instantly compute your pay for any holiday, rest day, or overtime scenario.
Open Overtime & Holiday Pay Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get paid even if I don't work on a regular holiday?
Yes. Under Article 94 of the Labor Code, every worker shall be paid their regular daily wage during regular holidays, even if they do not work. This is known as the "no work, pay" policy for regular holidays. However, the employee must have worked or was on leave with pay on the day immediately preceding the holiday.
What is the difference between a regular holiday and a special non-working day?
Regular holidays are fixed by law (such as New Year's Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day) and employees receive 100% of their daily wage even without working. Special non-working days (like Ninoy Aquino Day) follow a "no work, no pay" policy — employees are only paid if they actually work, and they receive an additional 30% of their daily rate.
How much extra do I earn if I work on a regular holiday that falls on my rest day?
If a regular holiday falls on your rest day and you work, you receive 260% of your daily rate for the first 8 hours (200% holiday rate + 30% rest day premium on top of the 200%). Overtime on that day is compensated at 338% of the daily rate.
Are contractual or probationary employees entitled to holiday pay?
Yes. Holiday pay applies to all employees regardless of employment status — regular, probationary, contractual, or project-based. The only exceptions are workers in retail and service establishments regularly employing less than 10 workers.
What are the regular holidays in the Philippines?
The Philippines has 12 regular holidays including New Year's Day (January 1), Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (June 12), National Heroes Day (last Monday of August), Bonifacio Day (November 30), Christmas Day (December 25), Rizal Day (December 30), Eid'l Fitr, and Eid'l Adha.