May 1 regular holiday moved to May 3, DoLE issues pay rules

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) on Wednesday said that in view of the yearly observance of Labor Day, the Malacañang Palace had instead declared May 3, 2010, a Monday, in lieu of May 1, a Saturday, as a regular holiday nationwide.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque thus clarified that the regular holiday on May 1 will be observed on May 3, by virtue of the amendment issued by Malacañang on the earlier Presidential Proclamation 1841 issued on July 21, 2009.

Proclamation 2043, by authority of the President signed by Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza on April 28, 2010, cited that Republic Act (RA) 9849 provides, among others, that Labor Day “shall be observed on a Monday nearest May 1, which happens to be May 3, 2010,” which, “in effect supersedes Proclamation 1841 where May 1 (Saturday) was declared a regular holiday.”

The proclamation, in moving the regular holiday to May 3, emphasized that “a longer weekend encourages families to get together and strengthen their relationship towards a more productive environment, as well as promotes domestic tourism, and enables employers to plan their schedules effectively and efficiently, resulting in improved productivity.”

Roque emphasized that this year's Labor Day celebrations will proceed earlier on Saturday, May 1, 2010, on the theme, “Manggagawang Pilipino, Kaagapay sa Pagbabago (Filipino workers, partner in change),” in honor of all the Filipino workers both at home and overseas, and highlighting the greater social partnership of labor with the government, management, the civil society and other sectors.

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