DOLE CARAGA ASSURES EMPLOYEES TO GET 13TH MONTH PAY DESPITE THE PANDEMIC

BUTUAN CITY – Employers should pay the 13th-month pay on or before December 24 under the law despite the pandemic. This is the assurance of the Department of Labor and Employment Caraga in an interview with the regional director, Chona Mantilla.

According to RD Mantilla they are aware of some companies giving half of the 13th-month pay as early as June, clarifying that there are no exemption or deferment. Employers should submit the report of compliance to the nearest DOLE regional office not later than January 15 next year.

“ Maraming pronouncement po sa media because there was a petition of employers, naintindihan naman natin hirap po sa pandemic maliit ang kita nagsara , temporary closure, less ang kita, but sa ngayon eto po ang ating ruling issuance labor advisory 28, wala pong request for application for exemption from payment of 13th month pay,” said RD Mantilla.

(There are many pronouncements in media because there was a petition of employers. We understand the difficulty of the pandemic, less profit, shutdown, and temporary closure. But for now, this is our ruling issuance labor advisory 28, no request for application for exemption from payment of 13th-month pay.)

Meanwhile, DOLE and DTI are working together to request a budget from the DBM department of budget and management that holds the budget for loans to subsidize employers, particularly the micro and small enterprises.

“ Ang ni work out po sana nag DOLE na bigyan ng gobyerno ng loans o subsidy, lalong lalo na sa micro and small enterprises na medyo hirap po at sila yong heavily affected sa COVID-19 pandemic,” the regional director added.

(What DOLE is working out right now is for the government to provide loans or subsidy, especially to the micro and small enterprises that are having it hard and are heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.)

DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III has first confirmed the final decision with the stakeholders during their meeting that employers should give the 13th month this year despite the pandemic.