More companies complying with minimum wage law

More workers are getting their just deserts.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday that a majority of establishments nationwide now comply with the minimum wage law.

Data from the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) showed 82.1 percent of the 16,319 commercial establishments inspected last year gave their workers the mandated minimum wage or even higher salaries.

"Upon inspection, most of the firms were found complying with the minimum wage law," labor officials said.

Central Luzon topped the list of regions with the highest compliance rate among establishments, followed by Eastern Visayas and the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

With the high compliance rate, labor officials expressed confidence that workers would also enjoy the coming salary adjustments.

Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said all the 17 Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards nationwide are already studying the possibility of granting increases in the daily take-home pay of workers in their regions.

Sto. Tomas said the heads of most wage boards had already assured her they would decide on an increase before May 30.

Last Labor Day, President Arroyo directed all wage boards to review and decide on the demand of labor unions for salary adjustments within 30 days.

But the wage gains made by unionized labor contrast with the continued failure of so-called "informal" workers, which constitute nearly half the work force, to enjoy benefits like insurance or social security.

DOLE said 15.5 million informal workers aren’t protected from disability, loss of income and other job hazards.

Sto. Tomas said five principal systems, including the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS), provide social security to government employees and workers in the formal sector.