13th month pay guidelines issued

The Department of Labor and Employment released the guidelines for the distribution of 13th month pay to employees in the public and private sector, as mandated by Article 5 of the country’s Labor Code and Presidential Decree No. 851.

The Labor department said employers are required to give a proportional 13th month pay to employees, which is one-twelfth of the total salary earned by the worker during the year, on or before 24 December.

In a radio interview, Policy and Program Development Division chief of the DoLE-Bureau of Working Conditions Nicanor Bon said that rank-and-file workers, except those who have been hired less than a month before the end of the year, could claim their 13th month pay.

Bon also said that resigned and terminated employees are also entitled to 13th month pay.

Last year, the DoLE-BWC reported a 97 percent compliance rate in the distribution of 13th month pay. Bon reminded employers and companies to comply with the mandated rule to distribute 13th month pay to employees.

“We are processing cases of noncompliance. Our regional offices could file a compliance order to them to follow the law on 13th month pay,” Bon said.