Employers warned: Give proper wages

The Department of Labor and Employment warned employers to comply with the wage order by giving proper wages to their employees so as to avoid fines and prosecution.

This as workers are expected to receive the adjustment in their wages starting last weekend.

Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said that the wage setting process for 2005 in the country's 17 regions is now accomplished and will benefit some five million minimum wage earners, or nearly 300,000 on the average per region.

With this, she strongly encouraged the companies in the country to practice "self-inspection" and voluntary compliance on wage and other labor standards.

In a press release, she added that employers who violate the minimum wage law would be subjected to prosecution that includes the possibility of a fine of almost P100,000 and a jail sentence.

The self-inspection of large-sized companies must actively involve both management and the employees, and allow the government's inspectorate force to focus its attention evenly on other industries that require its presence and intervention, Sto. Tomas said.

If a company cannot afford to comply with the wage order, DOLE said that it has to file for an exemption to avoid conflict with employees and prosecution.

According to the National Wages and Productivity Commission, a company could start filing an exemption within 75 days after the publication of the implementing rules and regulations of the new wage order.

In Central Visayas, Wage Order No. 11, which orders for an adjustment of P15 for workers under category A and P12 for those under category B, took effect last June 16. The order takes effect 15 days after its publication last June 1.

Meanwhile, amid reports on threat of a possible layoff of workers following the issuance of the latest round of wage orders, the labor department assured workers that there are new jobs waiting for them.

Sto. Tomas said there are currently some 20,141 job vacancies posted by local employers and overseas employment providers in the Phil-Jobnet System and these are available to job seekers including those who may be displaced or retrenched in certain companies.

DOLE has urged job seekers, including retrenched workers, to access the system and avail of its opportunities on its website. The DOLE's Phil-Jobnet system is easily accessible to interested job applicants at its Internet website address of http://phil-jobnet.dole.gov.ph.

The agency said that job seekers may also access job opportunities using the cellular phone by simply texting TRABAHO to 2376 for Globe, and 2476 for Smart subscribers.