Sotto bill seeks 14th month pay for private sector employees

Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed a bill on Monday seeking to give employees in the private sector a 14th month pay.

The proposed benefit under Senate Bill No. 10 shall cover all non-government rank and file employees who have at least rendered one month of work during the calendar year.

They shall receive the benefit regardless of their employment status, designation and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid.

The bill also states that the 14th month pay shall not be below a month's worth of the basic salary of the employee.

"The 13th month pay is gobbled up by Christmas expenses. We need extra earnings in the middle of the year to help ordinary workers in school and medical expenses," Sotto said.

He added that the latest wage increase of P25 in November 2018 is "too small compared to the daily expenses of ordinary workers."

The measure proposes that the 13th month pay shall be given to employees not later than June 14th.

The 14th month pay, on the other hand, shall be received by private sector employees not later than December 24th of every year.

An agreement between the employer and employee, however, may modify the frequency of payment of this monetary benefit.

The Labor and Employment chief shall promulgate the implementing rules of this measure within 60 days after its enactment into law. —LDF, GMA News