‘Release holiday pay before yearend’ - Chief Panelo

Metro Manila, Philippines – Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo in his Counterpoint Live Program yesterday, November 28, 2020 announced that employers in the private sector are advised to pay their workers’ deferred holiday pay this year.

Employers are required to release said holiday pay before December 31, 2020.

“Meron trayon magandang balita lalong lalo na dun sa mga manggagawa natin. Yun pong mga holiday pay ng mga manggagawa natin. Yun ay dinifer dahil nga sa pandemya. Pero ayon kay Sec. Silvestre Bello III ay inutusan na po ang lahat ng mga pribadong kumpanya na ilabas na yung deferred holiday pay bago matapos ang taong ito,” Panelo said.

DOLE through a series of Labor Advisories have issued during monthly regular holidays have allowed employers to defer Holiday Pay in view of the existence of a national emergency due to the Coronavirus Pandemic until the emergency situation subsides and normal operations of establishments are in place.

“Kailangan na irelease natin yun dahil Pasko na e. So sana po yung mga pribadong kumpanya e alalahanin niyo rin yung mga mangga-gawa natin,” furthered Panelo.

As stated under DOLE Labor Advisory 31 released November 25, Wednesday, deferred payment Holiday Pay are for regular holidays dated April 09 (Maundy Thursday), April 10 (Good Friday), April 11 (Black Saturday), May 01 (Labor Day), May 25 (Observance of Eid’l Fitur), June 12 (Independence Day), July 31 (Observance of Eid’l Adha), August 31 (National Heores’ Day), November 01 (All Saints’ Day), November 02 (All Souls’ Day) and November 30 (Bonifacio Day).

“Employers who were allowed to defer payment of the holiday pay of their employees… are required to pay all covered employees of the deferred holiday pay equivalent to 100% of their wage,” stated the advisory.

Last October, DOLE also reminded that 13th month pay shall be distributed to employees before December 24 pursuant to the Labor Code of the Philippines.

This mandates all employers nationwide to give the benefit to their workers regardless of position, designation, or employment status, and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid, provided they have worked for at least one month during the calendar year.

“We will not postpone, we will not defer, and we will not give any exemption to the payment of the 13th month pay. The law says, pay the workers their 13th month pay on or before December 24. Yan po ang ipapatupad ng Department of Labor,” said Labor Secretary Bello .

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