The Ten Basic Rights of Workers

The TEN BASIC RIGHTS of Workers

Labor standards

and employee rights & duties

I. The Right to a LIVING WAGE

A. MINIMUM WAGE

Lowest basic wage rate that an employer can pay his workers

Fixed by:

Congress

Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board

Collective Bargaining Agreement

I. The Right to a LIVING WAGE

B. BASIC WAGE

All the remuneration or earnings paid by an employer to a worker for services rendered on normal working days and hours, EXCLUDING:

COLA

Profit-sharing payments

13th month pay

I. The Right to a LIVING WAGE

C. 13th Month Pay

Rank-and-file employees, except:

Government employees;

Those already receiving the equivalent of a 13th month pay;

Household Helpers, personal service;

Those who are paid on a purely commission, boundary, or task basis, except those paid on a piece-rate basis.

I. The Right to a LIVING WAGE

C. 13th Month Pay

Basic Salary within the year

12

Paid not later than December 24 of every year

I. The Right to a LIVING WAGE

D. Form, Time and Place of Payment

Cash only

At least once every two weeks or twice a month at intervals not exceeding 16 days

At or near the place of work or nearest Bank

I. The Right to a LIVING WAGE

E. Direct Payment of Wages

Wages must be paid directly to the employee EXCEPT:

In cases of force majeure rendering such payment impossible. In this case, worker may be paid through another person under written authority given by the worker; and

In cases where the worker has died, payment will be made to the heirs

I. The Right to a LIVING WAGE

F. Non-Diminution of Benefits

Benefits being given to employees cannot be withdrawn by the employer because the benefit has become part of the employment contract (Article 100, Labor Code)

Benefit becomes company practice if:

benefit is given over a long period of time;

practice is consistent and deliberate; and

practice is not due to error in the construction or application of a doubtful or difficult...