Robredo questions changing holidays into working days for economy

March 1 ------ Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday questioned the move of the government to change some holidays into working days to help the economy recover. In her radio program, Robredo pointed out that turning holidays into working days would reduce the double pay for workers to just regular pay. “Malaki ang implikasyon niyan kasi ‘di ba kapag ang mga workers natin pinatrabaho on a regular holiday, mas marami ang bayad sa kanila,” she said.

“Kapag ginawa mong special working day, magiging regular ang bayad sa kanila,” she added. For Leni, more holidays will allow workers to have longer vacation trips, which can still contribute to the economy. “Siyempre kapag mahaba ang bakasyon, nagkakaroon ng pagkakataon ang mga workers natin umuwi sa kanila,’ she said. “Nagkakaroon ng panahon para ang families magkakasama. Ang iba nagkakaroon ng panahon para magbakasyon. Tingin ko ito ang makakadagdag sa ekonomiya,” she added.

She also questioned how the government came up with the decision. “Marami namang paraan pero parang bakit ito ang nakita? Bakit ito ang nakitang paraan para mabuksan ang ekonomiya?” she said. On Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a proclamation amending regular holidays and special non-working days, and special working days. November 2 - All Souls Day, December 24 - Christmas Eve, and December 31 - New Year's Eve will be working days this year.

Source: gmanetwork.com