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MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is considering allowing companies and businesses “distressed” by the COVID-19 pandemic to defer paying their workers’ 13th month bonus.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Thursday that they are considering various options to find the balance between the well-being of workers and companies, as the economy has just started to move again after months of lockdown.
Bello said that while one option is to fully excuse some companies from giving their employees their thirteenth month pay, he prefers a postponement, meaning that companies would still have to give the bonus to their workers, but only at a later date. .
“Pagka ‘yong business establishment is characterized as distressed, kaya we have to submit notice to determine what is the meaning of distressed enterprise or distressed business establishment. To ma-exempt sila from payment, ”he said in an online briefing.
(If the business establishment is characterized as distressed, that is why we have to find a meaning of what a distressed business or distressed business is. So that they can be exempted from payment).
“But I said instead of going through that, why don’t we consult both the workforce and the management? They will just talk about the weather being a bit rough right now, we are not making money. […] baka naman pwedeng i-differ. For me, that could be the most acceptable formula to tackle the problem, “he added.
(But like I said, instead of going through that, why don’t we consult both the workforce and the management, ask them to talk about it, that times are tough, that the company may not be getting many earnings … maybe it is possible to defer. To me, that might be the most acceptable formula to address the problem).
Under Presidential Decree No. 851, companies must pay workers a 13-month payment, which is basically one twelfth of a person’s annual income. This bonus is awarded before the end of each year, separate from other year-end bonuses.
However, the new coronavirus pandemic has forced many companies to suspend or completely cease operations amid a limited number of customers, as the government has imposed health regulations such as closures and travel restrictions that require the public in generally stay indoors.
Among the most affected industries are tourism, transportation, leisure activities and some food and beverage outlets.
Bello also said that the DOLE is also considering other options such as totally exempting micro, small and medium-sized companies from granting the payment of the thirteenth month, or excluding companies with a capital of more than P1 million from delaying or rejecting the payment of the thirteenth month. Monthly bonus for workers.
“Maybe we can’t do it now, maybe next year or next month, like this. But that’s one option. The other option is, we do business, we are thus excused […] So we looked at this again, on how we can address the issue of non-payment of the 13th month payment, ”he explained.
(Maybe they can’t do it this year, maybe they can do it next month or next year. But that’s one option. The other option is for companies to excuse themselves. That is what we are studying, how can we address the problem of non-payment of the payment of the thirteenth month).
“Perhaps with regard to the payment of the 13th month, perhaps we can exempt those MSMEs, the micro, small and medium. And then those with a capitalization of P1 million above, maybe we can require. So this, still under study, will later be the object of a tripartite consultation, “he added.
(I suggested that maybe when it comes to the payment of month 13, we can exempt MSMEs, micro, small and medium. And then those with a capitalization of P1 million above, maybe we can require them to pay. Studied, then it will be subject to a tripartite consultation.)
KGA
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