WITH the holidays over, the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) is urging workers who failed to receive their 13th month pay to file a report with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In an interview, SENTRO Secretary General Josua Mata said workers must have the courage to fight for their rights, including getting the mandatory benefit before the end of the year.
“It is their right to have their 13th month pay. They should demand for it or file a case to force their employers to pay up,” said Mata.
He, however, admitted their group has not received reports of employees failing to get their 13th month pays, for now.
Presidential Decree No. 851 requires all employers in the private sector to give their employees 13th month pays. PD No. 851 also states that the 13-month pay should be paid on or before December 24 of the current year.
The DOLE is also reminding employers to submit their compliance report on the provision of the 13th month pay last year.
Based on Labor Advisory No. 23-22, all private sector employers are required to submit their 13th month pay compliance report not later than January 15.
“Every covered employer shall make a report of their compliance through the DOLE Establishment Report System at https://reports.dole.gov.ph/ not later than January 15,” said DOLE.
It said the report must contain the name of the establishment; address; principal product or business; total employment; total number of workers benefitted; amount granted per employee; total amount of benefits granted; and name, position, and telephone number of the person giving the information.
DOLE began requiring the submission of the 13th month pay compliance reports in 2021.
