MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Workers in the Philippines will not get their 13th month pay this year, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic which has greatly impacted businesses and employers in the country.

But if a proposed bill makes it through Congress, workers will, instead, receive the equivalent of 9 months in extra pay (March to December) to compensate for the lockdowns and community quarantines imposed by the government.

The bill will be introduced today by a group of unnamed Senators and Congressmen to ensure that all Filipinos will still enjoy their Christmas holidays while being compensated for lost income due to the pandemic.

The proposed bill does not discriminate. Whether or not workers continued to receive their paychecks since the community quarantine was imposed in March this year, they will be entitled to the 9 months extra pay.

It’s a win-win situation for Filipino workers!