Hinimok ni Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz ang mga employer sa pribadong sektor na ibigay ang 13th month pay ng kanilang mga empleyado, alinsunod sa isinasaad ng Labor Code of the Philippines. Binigyang-diin ng kalihim na ang 13th month pay ay isang general labor standard at dapat itong matanggap ng mga kawani bago sumapit ang Disyembre 24 ng bawat taon.

“All employers are required to pay their rank-and-file employees the 13th month pay, 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,” pahayag ni Baldoz.

“Good labor-management relations, increased workers’ and enterprises’ productivity and competiveness result from workers being paid what is due them,” dagdag pa ng kalihim. - Mina Navarro