"The President has instructed Labor Secretary Marianito Roque and Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila to convene a series of tripartite meetings on non-wage benefits for workers," Bunye said in a statement.

Bunye said the tripartite meetings aimed to map out specific "income extenders and benefits" that employers could provide their employees while ensuring their businesses’ sustainability.

"It is time for employers, particularly those who are better off, to draw from a wellspring of generosity and kindness to help workers cope during difficult times," he said.

Even as the tripartite wage board in the National Capital Region has yet to make a final determination of the increase, Arroyo on Thursday announced that minimum wage earners in the private sector would be receiving a P20 increase in their salary.

She said the wage board is still finalizing whether the entire amount would be added to the existing minimum wage of P362, or if P5 of the increase would be given as cost of living allowance (COLA).

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines had asked the wage board for an P80 increase.

Arroyo's directives reiterated her earlier call to corporations to grant non-wage benefits to their employees, such as rice subsidy and transportation.

She also signed Executive Order 721 asking large companies to provide for the rice requirements of their employees as the nation continues to grapple with soaring food prices.

The order directs the National Food Authority to be on top of the campaign to entice large corporations with at least 500 employees to help their employees by either engaging in rice importation or rice production.