A recently released overtime policy by the Department of Education for public school teachers will see them receiving up to 125 percent of their hourly rate for overtime work on weekdays, and 150 percent on weekends and holidays.
The new guidelines, dated September 26, were first mentioned by Education Secretary Sonny Angara last Sunday during the start of the National Teachers Month celebration in Koronadal City.
“The overtime pay shall be 125 percent or 1.25 of Actual Hourly Rate on a scheduled workday. It shall be 150 percent or 1.5 of the Actual Hourly Rate for Saturdays, holidays and non-working days,” Angara said in DepEd Order No.026.
The overtime pay will be calculated based on the teachers’ actual hourly rate, which is determined by dividing their monthly salary by 22 (the number of working days in a month) and then by 8 or the number of hours in a workday.
It said the overtime pay received by teachers “shall form part of their taxable income” in accordance with existing tax laws and regulations.
In the order, Angara said overtime services shall not be used to offset undertime incurred by the teachers and that overtime shall only be rendered within the official school premises and community learning centers.
“Ancillary tasks performed within the school premises shall not qualify for overtime compensation. Teachers on travel status are not authorized to claim overtime pay,” it added.
Likewise, only teachers who have completed at least six hours of actual classroom teaching per day and a minimum of 30 hours per week “shall be eligible for paid overtime work” in accordance with Republic Act 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.
Overtime pay for teaching-related assignments rendered during weekends and holidays shall be limited to a maximum of four hours per day.
“Services rendered in excess of this shall be converted into vacation service credits, subject to existing DepEd and Civil Service Commission guidelines,” the order added.
Teachers funded by local government units through the Local School Board are “not eligible” to receive overtime pay through DepEd funds.
