Early Christmas Gift for Eastern Visayas Workers

The workers in Eastern Visayas may soon enjoy an increase in wages.

“It will take effect on May 1,” DOLE Regional Director Joel M. Gonzales told reporters covering the public consultation on the minimum wage in Ormoc City in March 21.

Gonzales, who is also the chairman of the regional tripartite wages and productivity board (RTWPB) in Eastern Visayas, relayed to the workers in the private sector this early gift.

Timelines

The last leg of the public consultation in Region 8 will be held in Maasin City, Southern Leyte on March 22 after finishing same public consultations in Catarman, Northern Samar March 14, Catbalogan City, Samar March 15, and Borongan, Eastern Samar in March 16.

“There will be one public hearing by first week of April,” Gonzales added saying the RTWPB will deliberate and hope to come up with wage order by third week of April.

This wage order will be published in a publication of general circulation 15 days before May 1, he said hoping its effectivity will be on Labor Day.

Basis

The regional labor chief revealed that the RTWPB has the mandate to review every year after the wage order has taken effect.

This was done this year without any petition, moto propio, it is the RTWPB that initiated to conduct a review as part of the board’s mandate as provided by law, he further said.

RTWPB in the region issued and approved the last wage order, Wage Order No. R8 VIII-19, on December 19, 2016.

The 2016 wage order, approved the minimum wage rates of the following: non-agriculture (including sugar mills)-P285; cottage/handicaraft-P253; retail/service employing 10 workers and below-P245 and employing 11 workers up to 30 workers-P275; agriculture (non-sugar) – P251; and sugar farm-P245.

Options

“Everybody is favoring for the adjustments,” clarified Gonzales, however, he could not reveal the figure yet.

He stated that there was a suggestion in the public consultation conducted to give the increase in tranches and not in a one-time scheme considering the many factors considered as raised by the employers like the effect in the implementation of the TRAIN Law.

Right of workers to a minimum wage

“Workers must receive a minimum wage,” Gonzales emphasized in his message in the public consultation on the minimum wage in Ormoc City.

He also reminded that what the workers earned is the expression of their services, thus, giving the right wage to workers will increase his productivity and will ultimately contribute to the growth of the organization.

“The greatest asset of an organization is the people,” the labor chief in Region 8 said. (ajc/rvictoria/PIA8-Leyte)