The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has assured workers that wage hike will be implemented soon in compliance with the order of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Marcos earlier ordered a review of the minimum wage rates nationwide.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the President is not misleading workers, as the various Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) are set to release new wage orders prior to the first anniversary of the current ones.
“Layunin ng chairman ng National Wages and Productivity Commission na matiyak na 60 araw bago ang petsa ng anibersaryo, naisagawa na ang mga kinakailangang aksyon. Higit pa rito, ang isang desisyon ay gagawin sa araw ng anibersaryo o posibleng mas maaga pa (The chairman of the National Wages and Productivity Commission aims to ensure that 60 days before the anniversary date, the necessary actions have already been taken. Furthermore, a decision will be made on the day of the anniversary or possibly even earlier),” said Laguesma.
Laguesma said that based on previous occurrences, the RTWPBs generally implement wage increases after conducting a thorough evaluation of current salary levels.
Nevertheless, he specified that the effective date of the current wage rates varies across all 17 regions throughout the country.
Laguesma said the issuance of wage orders by various RTWPBs would directly benefit workers who earn the minimum wage.
In the previous year, he said that nine out of the 17 RTWPBs across the country implemented wage orders voluntarily, without any petitions for salary increases.
Addressing concerns about the adequacy of wage increases granted by RTWPBs, Laguesma explained that these orders primarily focus on entry-level or minimum wages.
He stressed the importance of RTWPBs finding a middle ground between the demands of workers and the financial capabilities of employers.
Laguesma said the majority, or 95 percent, of the approximately 1 million registered businesses in the nation are classified as micro, small, and medium enterprises.