Philippine Labor Law Glossary
Definition: A Daily Time Record (DTR) is an individual record of an employee’s daily arrival and departure times. It helps establish attendance and the time to examine when checking wages, overtime or a disputed entry. In private-sector employment, the principal time-record rules are in Book III, Rule X of the Omnibus Rules Implementing the Labor Code.[1]
Sa Filipino · Filipino Explanation
Ano ang Daily Time Record o DTR?
Ang DTR ay tala ng oras ng pagpasok at pag-uwi ng isang empleyado sa bawat araw. Ginagamit itong sanggunian sa pag-check ng attendance at sahod, kasama ng aktuwal na trabaho, breaks at payroll records. Hindi awtomatikong overtime ang lahat ng oras sa pagitan ng time-in at time-out. Sa pribadong sektor, may partikular na tuntunin sa pagtatala at pag-iingat ng records; may exception sa individual time record para sa ilang managerial employees at field personnel, pero kailangan pa rin ang tala ng daily attendance. Iba ang saklaw ng government attendance rules.[1] [2]
Kung may mali o kulang na entry, ilista ang tamang petsa at oras, itabi ang supporting records, at humiling ng correction sa HR nang nakasulat.
Who this entry covers
This entry explains private-sector employment records under the Labor Code and its implementing rules. Government attendance forms and agency procedures have a different framework; government employees should check the applicable civil-service rules with their agency HR. Article 82 excludes government employees from the Labor Code’s hours-of-work title.[2]
What the time-record rules require
- Individual entries: Rule X, Section 7 provides for employee-signed or thumbmarked daily entries using bundy cards, a timekeeper’s book or individual DTR forms.[1]
- Filing and inspection: Section 8 requires chronological filing at or about the workplace, available for DOLE inspection.[1]
- Specific exceptions: Section 9 creates an exception to the individual time-record requirement for managerial employees, officers or members of managerial staff, and non-agricultural field personnel, provided the employer keeps their daily attendance record. Do not assume every “supervisor” or off-site worker meets the relevant legal classification.[1] [2]
- Retention: Section 12 requires covered employment records to be preserved for at least three years from their last entry. Section 13 prohibits false employment-record reporting.[1]
DTR, payslip and payroll: what differs?
| Record | What to check |
|---|---|
| Daily Time Record | The individual employee’s dates and arrival/departure entries, including the entry being questioned. |
| Payslip | The employee’s pay-period earnings, deductions and resulting payment. Compare it with the relevant DTR dates. |
| Payroll | The employer’s wage computations and payment record. Rule X, Section 6 separately lists required payroll information.[1] |
A simple example
A worker clocks in at 8 a.m. and leaves at 5 p.m. If there is a genuine one-hour unpaid meal break during which the worker is free from duty, the nine-hour elapsed interval contains eight working hours. If work continues through the supposed break, the actual circumstances must be checked. Articles 84 and 85 govern hours worked and meal periods; clock times alone do not answer that question.[2]
Records to keep when an entry looks wrong
- The date, original entry and correction requested.
- Your shift roster and any relevant work assignment or overtime instruction.
- A lawfully obtained copy of your own attendance confirmation or contemporaneous time log.
- The matching payslip and payroll period.
- Your written request to HR and its response. Preserve the original record rather than quietly overwriting it.
Common questions
Does DTR mean Daily Time Record?
Yes. In workplace attendance and payroll discussions, DTR commonly means Daily Time Record: an individual employee’s day-by-day timekeeping record.
Is a DTR the same as a payslip?
No. The DTR records attendance times; the payslip shows the employee’s pay computation for a period. Compare the two when a wage entry seems inconsistent.
Does a late time-out automatically prove overtime pay?
No. Check what work was actually required or permitted, the breaks, the employee’s legal coverage and the applicable pay rule. Article 84 defines hours worked; Article 87 addresses overtime.[2]
Related terms and full guides
Attendance · Payslip · Overtime Pay · Undertime · Full DTR guide
Sources and Legal Citations
- Omnibus Rules Implementing the Labor Code, Book III, Rule X, Sections 6–9 and 12–13 — implementing rules on payroll, time records, exceptions, preservation and false reporting.
- Labor Code of the Philippines, Articles 82–85 and 87 — coverage, normal hours, hours worked, meal periods and overtime.
Disclaimer
This glossary provides general Philippine labor-law information, not legal advice. Actual duties, records and applicable rules matter. For advice on a particular dispute, consult a Philippine lawyer or the appropriate labor office.