13th-month pay, computed correctly
13th-month pay is a mandated benefit under Presidential Decree 851 — not a bonus and not optional. The formula is simple, but the base is where agencies get it wrong. Here's how to compute it correctly.
The formula
13th-month pay is one-twelfth of the total basic salary earned during the calendar year:
What counts as “basic salary”?
Only basic salary enters the base. These are excluded:
- Overtime pay
- Night shift differential and holiday premium pay
- Cost-of-living allowances (COLA) and other allowances
- Unused-leave conversions and other monetary benefits not part of basic pay
For guards, that distinction matters: a large share of monthly take-home can be differentials and OT, none of which belong in the 13th-month base.
How absences affect the base
13th-month pay is based on what was actually earned. Periods of unpaid absence reduce basic salary earned, and therefore reduce the benefit proportionally. Paid leave that forms part of basic salary is not deducted.
Worked example
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly basic salary | ₱18,000 |
| Months worked (full year) | 12 |
| Total basic earned | ₱216,000 |
| 13th-month pay (÷ 12) | ₱18,000 |
If the same guard had one month of unpaid absence, total basic earned falls to ₱198,000 and the 13th-month pay to ₱16,500.
Compute it in seconds
Use the free 13th-month calculator — enter basic salary, months worked, and unpaid deductions.
Open the calculatorThe DOLE deadline
13th-month pay must be paid on or before December 24 each year. Employers must also file a compliance report with DOLE, generally by January 15 of the following year. Plan the December cutoff so the benefit clears before the 24th, not on it.
Let payroll handle the base for you.
NexusWorkforce tracks basic salary earned per guard across the year, so 13th-month pay computes on the correct base automatically — differentials and OT excluded.
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