GIVE 13TH MONTH PAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, DOLE TELLS EMPLOYERS

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday reminded employers in the private sector to give workers their 13th month pay.

According to DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, the giving of 13^th month pay  is required under the Labor Code of the Philippines and Presidential Decree 851.

Laguesma said the deadline for the 13^th month pay set by the law is Dec. 24.

The DOLE secretary said he is counting on the compassion of employers in adhering to what is required by the law.

“In the spirit of the season, I would not want to make a warning but rather appeal to employers who have not yet paid the 13th month to show an act of love and malasakit to their workers by voluntarily complying with the mandate of the law,” he said.

Laguesma liewise called on employees who will not receive their 13th month pay after the Dec. 24 deadline to report it to them.

“In any case, workers who did not get paid can seek the assistance of the nearest DOLE office having jurisdiction in their places of work. This way, their employers can be summoned by the DOLE to appear so that the issue of non-payment can be resolved,” he said.

The DOLE head said all rank-and-file employees are entitled to receive the benefit regardless of their position, designation, or employment status, and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid.

He explained that for the computation of the 13th month pay, it should not be less than 1/12 of the total basic salary earned by a worker within a calendar year.