A Catholic prelate has urged employers to share their blessings with their employees this Christmas.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said these may come in the form of cash or material benefits.
“Companies should endeavor to share whatever they can to their employees either by giving cash bonus or material benefits,” Pabillo said. “Christmas is a time of sharing so let us all share,” added Pabillo.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment has renewed its call to private employers for the release of their workers’ 13th month pay.
Under the law, all employers are mandated to pay the 13th month pay of their workers on or before December 24, regardless of the nature of their employment, and irrespective of the methods by which their wages are paid, provided they worked for at least one month during a calendar year.
The Labor Code provides that every covered employer is required to make a report of compliance with the law to the nearest DoLE regional office not later than January 15 of each year.
The 13th month pay is defined as one-twelfth of the basic salary of an employee within a calendar year.
The basic salary includes all remunerations or earnings paid by an employer to an employee for services rendered, but may not include cost-of-living allowances, profit-sharing payments, cash equivalents of unused vacation and sick leave credits, overtime pay, premium pay, night shift differential pay, holiday pay, and all allowances and monetary benefits which are not considered or integrated as part of the regular or basic salary of the employee.
(Leslie Ann G. Aquino)