Employers told: Submit 13th month pay report

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment-7 has reminded employers to submit their Thirteenth Month Pay compliance report to the agency not later than January 15, 2023 following the reference year, 2022.

DOLE-7 regional director Lilia Estillore said that compliance with the 13th Month Pay shall be enforced by DOLE through the conduct of inspection.

She said that there will be no compliance upon inspection and during the remediation period, then the noncompliance will escalate into a case whereby a compliance order is issued to erring establishments.

Estillore, in a statement, said that every covered employer shall make a report of their compliance through the DOLE Establishment Report System that should conform substantially with the following: 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 the information.

“Please be reminded that the 13th Month Pay is paid on or before 24 December of every year. So, by this time, we expect that all covered employers have already paid their workers with it,” said Estillore.

She likewise emphasized that no request or application for exemption from payment of the 13th Month Pay or for deferment of the payment thereof shall be accepted and allowed.

All private-sector “rank-and-file” employees are eligible for the 13th Month Pay benefit as long as they've worked for at least one month during the calendar year.

“Let’s not forget that also covered by such benefits are the household helpers or “kasambahays”, yaya, cooks, gardeners, laundry persons or any person who regularly performs domestic work in one household on an occupational basis,” she added.

The regional chief added the 13th month pay shall also be given to 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 receive salary differential.

The 13th month pay shall not be less than one-twelfth (1/12) of the total basic salary earned by the worker within the calendar year. (FREEMAN)