RULE III : Weekly Rest Periods

SECTION 1. General statement on coverage. — This Rule shall apply to all employers whether operating for profit or not, including public utilities operated by private persons.

SECTION 2. Business on Sundays/Holidays. — All establishments and enterprises may operate or open for business on Sundays and holidays provided that the employees are given the weekly rest day and the benefits as provided in this Rule.

SECTION 3. Weekly rest day. — Every employer shall give his employees a rest period of not less than twenty-four (24) consecutive hours after every six consecutive normal work days.

SECTION 4. Preference of employee. — The preference of the employee as to his weekly day of rest shall be respected by the employer if the same is based on religious grounds. The employee shall make known his preference to the employer in writing at least seven (7) days before the desired effectivity of the initial rest day so preferred.

Where, however, the choice of the employee as to his rest day based on religious grounds will inevitably result in serious prejudice or obstruction to the operations of the undertaking and the employer cannot normally be expected to resort to other remedial measures, the employer may so schedule the weekly rest day of his choice for at least two (2) days in a month.

SECTION 5. Schedule of rest day. — (a) Where the weekly rest is given to all employees simultaneously, the employer shall make known such rest period by means of a written notice posted conspicuously in the work place at least one week before it becomes effective.

(b) Where the rest period is not granted to all employees simultaneously and collectively, the employer shall make known to the employees their respective schedules of weekly rest through written notices posted conspicuously in the work place at least one week before they become effective.

SECTION 6. When work on rest day authorized. — An employer may require any of his employees to work on his scheduled rest day for the duration of the following emergencies and exceptional conditions:

(a) In case of actual or impending emergencies caused by serious accident, fire, flood, typhoon, earthquake, epidemic or other disaster or calamity, to prevent loss of life or property, or in cases of force majeure or imminent danger to public safety;

(b) In case of urgent work to be performed on machineries, equipment or installations to avoid serious loss which the employer would otherwise suffer;

(c) In the event of abnormal pressure of work due to special circumstances, where the employer cannot ordinarily be expected to resort to other measures;

(d) To prevent serious loss of perishable goods;

(e) Where the nature of the work is such that the employees have to work continuously for seven (7) days in a week or more, as in the case of the crew members of a vessel to complete a voyage and in other similar cases; and

(f) When the work is necessary to avail of favorable weather or environmental conditions where performance or quality of work is dependent thereon.

No employee shall be required against his will to work on his scheduled rest day except under circumstances provided in this Section: Provided, However, that where an employee volunteers to work on his rest day under other circumstances, he shall express such desire in writing, subject to the provisions of Section 7 hereof regarding additional compensation.

SECTION 7. Compensation on rest day/Sunday/holiday. — (a) Except those employees referred to under Section 2, Rule I, Book Three, an employee who is made or permitted to work on his scheduled rest day shall be paid with an additional compensation of at least 30% of his regular wage. An employee shall be entitled to such additional compensation for work performed on a Sunday only when it is his established rest day.

(b) Where the nature of the work of the employee is such that he has no regular work days and no regular rest days can be scheduled, he shall be paid an additional compensation of at least 30% of his regular wage for work performed on Sundays and holidays.

(c) Work performed on any special holiday shall be paid with an additional compensation of at least 30% of the regular wage of the employees. Where such holiday work falls on the employee's scheduled rest day, he shall be entitled to additional compensation of at least 50% of his regular wage.

(d) The payment of additional compensation for work performed on regular holiday shall be governed by Rule IV, Book Three, of these regulations.

(e) Where the collective bargaining agreement or other applicable employment contract stipulates the payment of a higher premium pay than that prescribed under this Section, the employer shall pay such higher rate.

SECTION 8. Paid-off days. — Nothing in this Rule shall justify an employer in reducing the compensation of his employees for the unworked Sundays, holidays, or other rest days which are considered paid-off days or holidays by agreement or practice subsisting upon the effectivity of the Code.

SECTION 9. Relation to agreements. — Nothing herein shall prevent the employer and his employees or their representatives in entering into any agreement with terms more favorable to the employees than those provided herein, or be used to diminish any benefit granted to the employees under existing laws, agreements, and voluntary employer practices.