The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said all employers must still comply to giving their employees 13th month pay not later than December 24 of this year. The clarification came after the labor secretary received criticism from labor and other groups for saying that the department would review which companies will be given exemption from giving the 13th pay to their workers. In the clarification, the labor secretary highlighted that it was clear in the Presidential Decree 851 that they pay cannot be deferred and there should be no exemptions. The DOLE already inquired if a subsidy can be given to businesses categorized as micro and small enterprises.