Ecop backs early release of 13th month pay

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop) supports the call of the Department of Labor and Employment for business owners to release the 13th month pay of employees earlier than what is mandated by law.

Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., president of Ecop, last week told the Inquirer that they have supported calls for advancing its payout in the past and will take up the matter with members of the employers group.

“We might meet in a few days and we will consult with members. But we can support something like that,” Ortiz-Luis said. But he noted that small- and micro-sized enterprises might be unable to comply without ample funding support.

Last week, Labor Secretary Beinvenido Laguesma made a plea to business owners to release the 13th month pay of employees earlier than usual.

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“I hope they can give it earlier [and] if possible, by the first week of December so our workers and their families will not be in a bind to budget their expenses,” Laguesma said.

Presidential Decree No. 851 requires employers to pay employees a 13th-month pay every year. —Alden M. Monzon