The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has required employers to pay the 13th month pay to rank-and-file employees in the private sector regardless of their position, designation, or employment status and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid despite the pandemic.
DOLE 9 Regional Director Atty. Roy L. Buenafe said that the computation of this year’s 13th month pay might be different due to the number of days that an employee worked.
“The 13th month pay might be lesser compared to how much they usually receive pre-pandemic since most workers have not reported to work. The Labor Advisory shows employers how to properly compute the said benefit. Some employers believe that it is equivalent to 1 month’s salary right away which may not be the case,” he added.
The office already released the guidelines on the proper computation of 13th month pay for private-sector workers through Labor Advisory N0. 18, Series of 2021 signed by Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III.
The law states that employees must receive their 13th month pay on or before December 24, 2021.
It also expressly states that no requests or application for exemption from payment of 13th month pay for deferment of the payment shall be accepted and allowed.
To monitor compliance, DOLE requires all employers to make a report and submit it online via the DOLE Establishment Report System at reports.dole.gov.ph not later than January 15, 2022.
“We are appealing to employers to take heed of the advisory and to give what is due to the workers especially during the time of pandemic,” Atty. Buenafe said.