City council to DOLE: Monitor 13th month pay

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has passed a resolution asking the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)-7 to monitor business establishments' compliance of Presidential Decree No. 851, which mandates the giving of 13th month pay to workers.

City Councilor Alvin Dizon, who authored the measure, said there are some employers who allegedly evade the obligation.

"It is detrimental to the interest of the workers, considering that this benefit is theirs under the law," said Dizon, Council committee on labor, employment, manpower development and placement vice chairperson.

He said that if employers deprive their workers the right to receive their 13th month pay, it would result to "economic loss, especially on a time when they (workers) need it most for them to celebrate a decent Christmas for their families and loved ones."

The Labor Code of the Philippines mandates that all private sector employers are required to give all of its workers the said benefit not later than Dec. 24 of each year.

The employer may also give half of the 13th month pay before the opening of the regular school year and the remaining half on or before Dec.24.

The reminder was contained in Dole's Dec. 3 Labor Advisory No.12 series of 2013 on the release of the benefit.

Dole Secretary Rosalinda  Dimapilis-Baldoz said in a statement that all employees who have worked at least one month during the calendar year are covered by the 13th month pay requirement.

"All rank-and-file employees, regardless of the nature of their employment and whatever the mode of payment of their wages (should get the benefit)," she said.

She also said that the law likewise states that the minimum 13th month pay required by law shall not be less than one-twelfth of the total basic salary earned by an employee within a year.

Moreover, all employers are required to make a report of their compliance with the law to the nearest Dole regional office not later than Jan. 15 the next year. (FREEMAN)