The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) assured on Wednesday that stakeholder consultations for the proposed 14th-month pay are now underway.
At a news briefing, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said President Duterte is now discussing the matter with government economic managers to determine the economic impact of the proposal.
Bello added that the DOLE will also get the inputs of employers and labor groups on the proposal.
The labor chief said they will issue their official position on the proposed legislation after the conclusion of these consultations.
“We are open to the possibility of endorsing it depending on the result of our consultation with labor and management, and also depending on the result of the consultation of the President with his economic advisers,” Bello said.
Personally, Bello said he supports the proposal, since it will provide additional income to workers amid the rising cost of living.
“The proposed 14-month pay for our private [sector] workers is a huge help for their families. It’s extra earnings to help them cope with the rising inflation, but we also have to consider a lot of factors,” Bello said.
Under Senate Bill 2, or the “An Act Requiring Employers in the Private Sector to Pay 14th Month Pay,” all workers will get another one month worth of salary during the calendar year.
The pending bill was filed Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III in July 2016.