BOARD APPROVES ADDITIONAL P35 ON MINIMUM WAGE IN NCR, ‘INSULT TO FILIPINO WORKERS’

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) approved the wage increase in Metro Manila, effective from July 17 with an increase of P35 to the minimum wage in the National Capital Region (NCR).

From P610 the minimum wage in NCR will increase to P645 for the non-agriculture sector, while those in the agriculture, service or retail and manufacturing sectors will be P608. The Wage Order No. NCR-25 was signed on June 27 and published on Monday, and will be effective 15 days after the publication.

From P610 to P645, additional increase on daily minimum wage in NCR was approved (Photo courtesy of Philippine Star)

DOLE states that businesses who employ 10 or fewer people on a regular basis in retail and service sectors, as well as those impacted by natural or man-made disasters, can appeal to the RTWPB to be excused from the wage hike.

In accordance with Republic Act No. 9178, the increase will also not apply to Barangay Micro Business Enterprise.

According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), "The new rates, which translate to about 5.7% increase from the prevailing daily minimum wage rates in the region, remain above the latest regional poverty threshold for a family of five."

"These likewise result in a comparable 5% increase in wage-related benefits covering 13th month pay, service incentive leave (SIL), and social security benefits such as SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG," it added.

Meanwhile, several groups are dismayed on the stingy increase on wage saying it is an insult for the workers and President Marcos approved it just because the SONA is nearby.

“This wage order displays once again how insensitive the wage boards are to the plight of workers,” Macalajar Labor Union-FFW (Federation of Free Workers) said.

House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas stated, “This P35 increase is an insult to Filipino workers. It’s barely different from the P25 wage hike implemented way back in 1989, and lower than the P40 hike granted last year,” she stressed. “How can the government expect NCR workers to survive on P645 a day when the Family Living Wage stands at P1,200 and when prices continue to accelerate?”

Labor groups have been pressing for more significant actions, such as the passing of House Bill No. 7871, also referred to as the Wage Recovery Act, which aims to increase the wages of all private sector employees by P150 a day. In February, the Senate passed a bill raising the minimum wage to P100 per day.

Source: GMA Integrated News

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