The Department of Labor and Employment in Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros, said workers of four establishments have filed complaints against them, claiming they were not given their 13-month pay in December.

Jose Ogang, DOLE district officer in Dumaguete, said the Christmas benefits should have been released before Dec. 25, 2005 yet. He said his office will issue summons to the management of the four companies after the workers finalize their complaints.

Ogang said that, based on labor procedures, similar disputes would call for a conciliation process between the worker-complainants and their employers to be facilitated by the DOLE, before the filing of a full-blown case.

He said his office will enjoin the employers to pay their workers' 13th-month pay, because this is mandated by law.

If the employers refuse to pay their obligation after the conciliation meeting, personnel from DOLE Region 7 office will conduct inspections at the establishments, and find out whether there are other violations of the Labor Code, Ogang said.

He also said he believes that, aside from the firms presently facing complaints, there may be others in Dumaguete that have not only failed to give the 13th-month pay to their workers, but have also violated other labor standard provisions, but the employees opted to keep silent.

"These workers should bring their complaint to our office, for us to have basis to take proper action," Ogang said. He said his office may even entertain an anonymous complaint.*RA

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