Didn’t get 13th-month pay? Tell DOLE

Private sector workers who did not receive their 13th-month pay in December should report their employers to the Department of Labor and Employment, the DOLE said.

“We encourage workers to report violations as the 13th-month pay is a core labor standard,” said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

Baldoz said violations may be reported through the DOLE call center at (02)5278000; the Bureau of Working Conditions at (02)5273000 ext. 301 or 307, or to the DOLE regional office in their locality.

Private sector employers are required to make a report of their compliance with the 13th-month pay law to the government.

“The report must be filed in the nearest DOLE regional office not later than Jan. 15 of each year,” Baldoz said.

Undersecretary for Labor Standards Lourdes Trasmonte said failure by employers to give their workers their 13th-month pay could result in an administrative action from the department.

The Labor Code provides that all private sector employers must pay their rank and file employees for an extra month each year regardless of their position, designation or employment status and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid, provided they had worked at least one month during a calendar year.

The pay is equal to the basic monthly salary of a worker.

Section 8 of Presidential Decree No. 851 requires that employers give their employees their 13th-month pay on or before Dec. 24.