DOLE Releases Statement About Releasing of 13th Month Issue
The Department of Labor and Employment finally breaks its silence and speaks about the issue of releasing the 13th month pay this December.
On Tuesday (October 13, 2020), the Labor Department clarified that business establishments and employers are required to release the 13th month pay of the Filipino employees this coming Christmas Season.
DOLE chief Blas Ople explained that the releasing of 13th month pay has been mandated at presidential decree in 1975. However, he explained that there are exceptions through Implementing Rules and Regulations.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said that ‘distressed’ companies might be exempted from giving the 13th month pay this year. He also suggested that the companies might implement deferment instead of exemption.
“The law is very clear: we have to pay our workers on or before 24 of December their 13th month pay. The only exception as provided by IRR… is when the company is in distress,” Bello said.
Bello also said that they will discuss the matter during DOLE’s meeting with 20 labor unions and management associations. They would also determine the companies that will be exempted for the deferment of the 13th month salary.
“This will be the issue that will be discussed and hopefully we can come up and arrive at a consensus,” Bello added.
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