Palace Reminds Employers 13th-Month Pay is Mandatory, Must Be Given to Employees
The Malacañang Palace has reminded the employers that the 13th-month pay is mandatory and must be given to the employees amid pandemic.
Employers cannot refuse to pay their workers the 13th-month pay, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, even if their businesses are damaged by the pandemic. He further stated that there is a law in place requiring businesses to provide a 13th-month salary.
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He claimed that skipping the 13th-month pay is impossible because it is a legal requirement for employers. If firms are unable to contribute, particularly those in small and medium-sized businesses that have suffered as a result of the pandemic’s impact, Roque says the government can assist them through the Small Business Corporation.
“Magbibigay ng assistance ang gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng Small Business Corporation para doon sa mga small and medium scale industries na kinakailangan ng tulong pambayad sa 13th month pay,” said Roque.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) stated that making the 13th-month pay installment basis for private-sector employees is not a problem. DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III, on the other hand, believes that employers and employees should have agreed to this.
Bello went on to say that he understands the suffering of employers in the pandemic-affected economy, but that they must follow the law. Employers were compelled to pay employees their 13th-month pay before or on December 24th per Presidential Decree No. 851.
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