HOUSEHOLD HELPERS ENTITLED TO 13TH MONTH PAY UNDER THE LAW

Dear PAO,
My aunt has been working as a household helper for two years now but she said her employer did not
give her a bonus or 13th month pay last year. She is worried that the same thing might happen this year.
Are workers like her really not entitled to a 13th month pay? Please advise me on this matter.
Haley
Dear Haley,
The benefit of a 13th month pay is expressly granted under our law. The minimum amount of which,
according to the Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of Presidential Decree (PD) 851 or more
commonly known as the 13th Month Pay Law, shall not be less than one-twelfth of the total basic salary
earned by an employee within a calendar year.
Although pursuant to the Revised Guidelines, employers of household helpers are not covered by the
mandate of PD 851, household helpers are nonetheless entitled to receive such benefit. This is in
consonance with Republic Act 10361, or the Domestic Workers Act or Batas Kasambahay. As stated
under Section 25 thereof:
Payment of wages shall be made on time directly to the domestic worker to whom they are due in cash
at least once a month. The employer, unless allowed by the domestic worker through a written consent,
shall make no deductions from the wages other than that which is mandated by law. No employer shall
pay the wages of a domestic worker by means of promissory notes, vouchers, coupons, tokens, tickets,
chits, or any object other than the cash wage as provided for under this Act.
The domestic worker is entitled to a thirteenth month pay as provided for by law. (Emphasis supplied)
To be more precise, the benefit of 13th month pay is included in the enumeration of rights and
privileges of domestic workers under Section 1, Rule IV of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA
10361. Section 8 thereof explicitly declares that a domestic worker is entitled to a 13th month pay,
which shall not be less than one-twelfth of his/her total basic salary earned within a calendar year
provided that he/she has rendered at least one month of service. Such benefit must be paid not later
than December 24 of every year or upon separation from employment.
Accordingly, your aunt may demand from her employer the benefit of a 13th month pay. Your aunt may
opt to file a complaint against the former before the Field/Provincial/Regional Office of the Department
of Labor and Employment should her employer fail to pay her such benefit for both last year and this
year. (Section 1, Rule XI, Id.)
We hope that we were able to answer your queries. Please be reminded that this advice is based solely
on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other
facts are changed or elaborated.