Labor chief calls for review of national holidays

Thursday, February 23, 2012

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) called Wednesday for a review of the current and proposed holidays in the country saying the balance in the workers' life and the economy should be strongly considered.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz noted how the country has one of the highest number of holidays declared at 18 with more being proposed and are pending in Congress.

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"Declaring holidays has implications on productivity and competitiveness. (But) It is also associated with issues on rights at work. Reviewing the implementation of holidays is necessary to contribute to the Philippine development goal of inclusive growth, through decent and productive work," said Baldoz.

She said the department believes that it is important to give workers a chance to engage in recreational and cultural activities, as this may have a direct effect to the country’s economy.

"It promotes or stimulates domestic consumption because people undertake recreational and cultural activities, thereby, scoring high in management and work-life balance practices," Baldoz said.

"However, variability in the number and scheduling of holidays may also affect the capability of firms to coordinate a mutually desired equilibrium of wages and labor hours," the official added.

Similarly, the labor chief noted how the numerous holidays could hurt workers under the "no work, no pay" policy.

"For daily paid workers, the opportunity to produce goods of economic value and to earn wages is lost during a special non-working day," Baldoz said.

Citing records of the Dole–Bureau of Working Conditions, the Philippines has a total of 12 regular holidays as well as six special non-working days. This is aside from the other local holidays from the different municipalities, cities, or provinces.

It noted it the number is higher than other developed countries like Australia, eight; Singapore, 11; Indonesia, 14; Japan, 15; Thailand, 15; Malaysia, 16; South Korea, 16; and Hong Kong, 17. Only China has more holidays at 29.

Just recently, the House of Representatives has approved on third reading House Bill (HB) 5068 declaring National Victory and Liberation Day every September 3 of the year; while the bill declaring National Women's Day every March 8 of the year or HB 3962 is on the second reading.

There are eight other bills declaring non-working holidays pending in the House of Representatives, namely, HB 1072 for Chinese New Year; HB 1182 for Tandang Sora Day; HB 1631 for Founding of Katipunan; HB 2249 for Corazon Aquino’s Natal Day; HB 2756 for National Heroes Day; HB 3152 for December 25 to 31 and January 1; HBs 3705 and 4414 for Iglesia ni Kristo Day; and HB 5259 for Corazon Aquino Day.

The Senate, on the other hand, continues to hear five local bills on the following: Senate Bill (SB) 459 for Lapu-Lapu Day; SB 550 for Chinese New Year; SB 829 for Iglesia ni Kristo Day; SB 1094 for National Teacher's Day; and SB 3112 for Filipino Day of Goodwill or Boxing Day.

The labor chief, then, asked the lawmakers to go slow on the tackling of the said bills reiterating that there should be balance among the considered factors.

"Lawmakers should have a balanced approach to the crafting of legislative measures on additional non working holidays, in cooperation with all stakeholders, should take into wise and careful consideration the effects of additional non-working holidays in the overall productivity and competitiveness of the Philippine economy, particularly on labor and employment," said Baldoz. (AMN/Sunnex)