DOLE reminds employers to give 13th month pay to workers

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has reminded private employers to release the 13th month pay of their workers on or before December 24.
“This is a reminder to our employers not to forget. The law is clear that you have to give your employees on or before Christmas Day their 13th month pay. It doesn’t matter if you’re earning or not, you are mandated by law,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said on Wednesday.
“There are other employers who released half of it middle of the year but they should give it,” added.
Under Presidential Decree 851, private sector workers are entitled to receive a 13th month pay not later than December 24. However, an employer may release to his or her employees half of the benefit before the opening of the regular school year and the other half on or before December 24 each year.
Bello also reminded employers that the law on 13th month pay also covers house helpers and workers of small businesses.
He added that the benefit should be given in cash and not in kind.
Bello urged workers who fail to receive their 13th month pay to file a complaint with DOLE regional offices. – RRD (from the report of Correspondent Dante Amento)