DOLE ASKS EMPLOYERS TO PAY 13TH MONTH:
All workers who have completed at least six months in service are assured of
getting their 13th month pay this Christmas.
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas gave this assurance to workers yesterday as she issued
a warning against erring companies that may not be giving the mandatory 13th month allowance.
Employers found violating the law will be forced either to pay their workers at the soonest
possible time or be hailed to court: "At the most extreme, we can auction their properties to
answer their obligations to the workers."
Because "times are presumably more difficult," Sto. Tomas said they expect an
ncrease in the number of companies that are likely to violate labor laws.
Data from the Department of Labor and Employment showed that there are
a total of 1,971 companies all over the region that escaped payment of the 13th month in 2000.
Sto. Tomas said the figure could breach 2,000 this year.
For his part, Donald Dee, president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines,
said they are currently undertaking a series of consultations with its members to assess
and resolve some prevailing problems, including the payment of 13th month,
between labor and management.
Mla. Times, 11/09/2001
CHURCH GROUPS TO JOIN SEPT. 12 RALLY FOR P125 WAGE HIKE:
Two militant church-based organizations have signified
their full support to labor's demand for a P125 across-the-board
wage increase in the daily minimum wage.
In separate statements, the Promotion of Church People's Response
(PCPR)and the Iglesia Filipino Independiente (IFI)
said they will join a Sept. 12 rally by the labor sector
to press for the wage increase.
PCPR deputy secretary Amie Dural also said they have joined the IFI,
also known as the Aglipayan Church,
in offering Sunday service for the much-needed pay raise
for workers nationwide. The protesters will also march
from Liwasang Bonifacio to the Chino Roces(formerly Mendiola)
Bridge to take their complaint to the doorsteps of Malacanang.
During the service, a special homily supporting the workers'
cause was delivered, while IFI priests led the hanging of P125
streamer and the symbolic signing of a huge campaign banner.
The IFI statement also said it joins the poor workers and all
concerned sectors calling on legislators to
"heed the clamor of a long-overdue wage hike."
Phil. Star, 09/10/2001
