DOLE to employers: Address wage distortion

MANILA, Philippines — Employers in Metro Manila have been reminded to correct the wage distortion and issue a pay increase even among workers earning slightly higher than the prescribed daily minimum salary.

Wage distortion resulting from the latest pay hike in the region must be addressed to avoid demoralization among workers, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said yesterday.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board has approved an increase of P35 in the daily minimum wage of workers in Metro Manila.

Over 900,000 minimum wage earners are expected to benefit from the order, according to the Department of Labor and Employment.

The DOLE estimated that 1.7 million workers earning above the minimum wage may also benefit due to upward adjustments arising from the correction of wage distortion.

Workers earning higher than the minimum wage are advised to negotiate for a salary increase.

“The employer has a responsibility to make adjustments and maintain a responsible gap between wages,” Laguesma said.

If a pay hike has not been reached, workers may seek DOLE intervention, Laguesma noted.