Passage of Sen. Sotto’s 14th month pay bill seen

MANILA, Philippines — Workers expect the passage of Sen. Vicente Sotto’s bill granting 14th month pay to employees in the private sector as he assumed the Senate presidency yesterday.

Sotto is the author of Senate Bill 2 or an act requiring employers in the private sector to give workers 14th month pay.

The measure covers all non-government rank and file employees who have worked for at least a month during the year.

“Now that he is Senate President, we hope that his bill will be approved without delay,” Alan Tanjusay, spokesman for the Associated Labor Union, said.    

The labor group also expressed hope that Sotto would push for the passage of the Security of Tenure bill, which prohibits “endo” or end of contract scheme and other forms of short-term employment.