Dole: Final pay compliance top labor concern
The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has reminded employers to ensure the timely release of their workers’ final pay, which topped the list of labor concerns received by the agency last year.
In a statement on Wednesday, Dole said that employees who have decided to leave the company must be given their final pay within 30 days after their resignation, unless their employer has a better policy, based on Labor Advisory No. 06.
An employee must also be provided with their certificate of employment, another major concern in 2025, within three days after their request.
Dole noted that the final pay includes all wages and benefits owed to the employee, such as unpaid salaries, prorated 13th month pay, separation or retirement pay, cash for unused leave, tax refunds, and any other benefits listed in company policies or agreements.
The agency urged employers to follow labor standards to avoid facing disputes or formal complaints, warning that companies who delay or withhold the final pay or employment records of its employees will be breaking the law and can be subject to penalties.
Hotline inquiries
Concerns on their final pay were the most common labor standards issue in 2025.
Dole noted that out of the 168,853 questions received by its labor assistance hotline, 23,496 were about the worker’s final pay.
In a previous statement, the agency said most of the queries received by the agency last year were about labor standards, employment facilitation, social protection and welfare, as well as labor relations.
The usual questions on labor standards were about final pay compliance, holiday pay computation and new minimum wage guidelines, while others revolved around needing advice regarding 13th-month pay and due process during termination.
When it comes to employment facilitation, most questions focused on local employment, rules for probationary employees and alien employment permits.
Employees also called Dole’s hotline to inquire about social protection, with most of the concerns involving the nonremittance of mandatory benefits, as well as questions on maternity leave, and work-related accident or death benefits.
Workers seeking assistance may call the Dole hotline 1349, which is open from Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., or contact Dole through email at hotline1349@dole.gov.ph or message the agency’s official Facebook page.
Resolved disputes
In an earlier report, Dole said it has resolved labor disputes early and fairly, keeping workplaces productive and peaceful last year.
It reported that labor cases posted a 98.07-percent disposition rate, benefiting more than 109,000 workers and yielding P8.34 billion in monetary awards.
Through conciliation and mediation, it said 82.55 percent of cases were settled amicably.
It noted that workplace conflicts were resolved without disrupting livelihoods and business operations through preventive mediation, voluntary arbitration, and strike-management mechanisms.
