DOLE checks on business compliance on wage hike in Central Visayas
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has started the inspection of companies in Central Visayas which were accused of not complying with the recent minimum wage adjustments.
“We have not yet tried imposing this penalty of double indemnity and we do not intend to do that as much as possible. However, everyone should know that such could possibly happen to those who would purposely circumvent the law,” said DOLE-7 Regional Director Lilia Estillore.
Estillore highlighted the use of technical and advisory visits (TAVs) as a mechanism used by the department to ensure that voluntary compliance at the plant level succeeds in herding companies, particularly micro-establishments, towards labor law compliance.
She said that establishments could file for an exemption under certain requirements.
Based on the Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Determination, retail/service businesses that employ a maximum of ten workers along with businesses that have been negatively impacted by man-made disasters may seek exemption from the wage increase.
Wage Order No. ROVII-24, which is set to take effect on October 1, is expected to benefit around 346, 946 minimum wage earners in the region.
The newly approved P33.00 rise in the minimum wage rates in Central Visayas is by far the highest increase in the history of wage fixing in the region.
Estillore said the increase is a result of a unanimous decision of all the board members. (Trixee Rosel)