Employers are directed to increase salaries of their minimum-wage workers by Php 15 a day, starting April 4.
This was the directive issued by Wage Order No. 19 of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productiv ity Board for the National Capital Region published last week.
The wage order raises the minimum wage in the capital to P444 a day for agriculture workers and P481 for non-agriculture workers.
It is estimated that half a million workers will benefit from the pay hike.
The Department of Labor and Employment earlier received two proposals from labor groups, one batting for a P136 across-the-board wage increase and the other proposing a P734 hike to be implemented in five tranches of P146.80 per year.
In justifying their proposals, the groups called attention to the increasing utility and transportation costs in Metro Manila.
“After a thorough evaluation of the existing socio-economic conditions of the region, the RTWPB-NCR has determined the need to provide workers with immediate relief measures to enable them to cope with the rising cost of living without impairing the viability of business and industry,” the Wage Order stated.
Employers groups found the directive “bearable” while labor groups denounced the hike as being too small.
Only “distressed establishments,” such as those adversely affected by natural calamities, and businesses employing less than 10 workers, may be exempted from paying the new salary rates.
Photo: from rhrealitycheck.org