Metro Manila workers may get wage hike

MANILA, Philippines - Metro Manila workers may get an increase in their daily take home pay.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the wage board may grant an increase ranging from P13 to P21 based on existing inflation rate figures.

“If based on inflation rate of 3 to 5 percent, that would amount to P13 to P21 adjustment, but the wage board have other socio-economic indicators in determining a salary increase,” she said.

Historically, the wage board has not granted more than P30 pay hike in the minimum wage rate in Metro Manila.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has sought a P90 increase in the minimum wage pay of workers in Metro Manila.

Last year, the wage board granted only a P22 additional cost of living allowance (COLA) for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila.

Baldoz said the board would have to assess the current economic conditions in the region and determine whether to grant a COLA or an increase in basic pay.

“In the past, the board orders the integration of COLA in basic pay or they may also grant an increase in basic pay, it is really the wage board which would determine the form of wage relief to be given,” she said. “In their decision, the wage board also has to consider the multiplier effect of granting a salary hike.” 

Baldoz said the employers and the workers have to agree during deliberations on the amount and form of salary increase.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) cannot preempt the wage board in its decision to grant a salary increase, she added. 

Wage hike in Calabarzon

Workers in Calabarzon may be the first to get a salary hike.

Ciriaco Lagunzad, National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) executive director, said the wage board in Calabarzon is expected to decide on the need for a salary increase next week.

“We are expecting the wage board in Calabarzon to issue an advisory and a new wage order by next week,” he said.

Lagunzad said the wage board in Calabarzon has started conducting consultations and deliberations long before the TUCP filed a formal petition for wage adjustment.

Calabarzon comprises the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

The other day, TUCP filed a petition seeking an P86 increase in the daily take-home pay of workers in Calabarzon.

Lagunzad said the wage board conducted a review of the existing minimum wage rate in the region as soon as the one-year prohibition has expired. “

“The wage board has already conducted at least five public consultations,” he said. 

He does not have any idea how much the wage board would grant and in what form, Lagunzad said.

The wage board is mandated to grant an increase in minimum wage or an additional emergency cost of living allowance (ECOLA).   

Palace: It’s up to wage board

It would be up to the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards to tackle the issue on wage hike, Malacañang said yesterday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Aquino was not empowered to decide when and how much salary increase should be given.

“These are powers given to the wage boards in different regions,” she said. “The wage boards will study all petitions for increase in minimum wage.” 

Under present rules, a wage order should not be disturbed for 12 months from its date of effectivity unless there are supervening conditions. – With Aurea Calica