ILOILO City – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 6 encourages private sector employers to release the 13th month pay of their employees on or before Dec. 24.
DOLE-6 regional information officer John Mandario on Tuesday, Dec. 20, said this is ordered in Labor Advisory No. 23 (“Guidelines on the payment of 13th month pay”) by DOLE secretary Bienvenido Laguesma issued on Nov. 28, 2022.
Thirteenth month pay shall be paid to rank-and-file employees in the private sector regardless of their position, designation, or employment status, and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid, provided that they have worked for at least one month during the calendar year.
Rank-and-file employees who are paid on piece-rate basis, fixed or guaranteed wage plus commission with multiple employers, resigned or were terminated, and were on maternity leave and received salary differential, are also entitled to 13th month pay.
The minimum 13th month pay required by law shall not be less than one-twelfth (1/12) of the total basic salary earned by an employee within a calendar year.
No request or application for exemption from or deferment of payment of 13th month pay is accepted or allowed by DOLE.
To ensure compliance, “Every covered employer shall make a report of their compliance through the DOLE Establishment Report System at https://reports.dole.gov.ph/ not later than January 15 following the reference year,” part of the advisory read.
The following information is needed in the report system:
* name of establishment
* address
* principal product or business
* total employment
* total number of workers benefited
* amount granted per employee
* total amount of benefits granted, and
* name, position, and telephone number of person giving information
Laguesma ordered DOLE regional and provincial offices to keep an eye on employers’ compliance with the labor advisory.
Mandario said noncompliance is a ground for filing a charge for violation of labor standards.
Employees have the right to receive their 13th month pay, stressed the DOLE-6 information officer.
“They have to understand Christmas season man ini kag pigado sang pangabuhi. Daku gid na nga bulig sa aton workers,” added Mandario./PN
