DOLE expecting issuance of other regional wage board orders on minimum wage hike

Workers at a medicine factory in the Philippines (AFP FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III is expecting the issuance of other regional wage board orders for a minimum wage increase in the coming week.

The daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region (NCR) has been raised by P33, and by P55 to P110 in Western Visayas, DOLE recently announced.

“I thank the wage boards for heeding my call to expedite the review of the current minimum wage in their respective regions,” Bello said in a statement Sunday.

“Following the lead of the NCR and Western Visayas, I expect the other regional wage boards to issue their respective wage orders in the coming days and week,” he added.

With the wage increase, the minimum daily wage in Metro Manila is now P570, while P450 in private establishments with more than 10 employees in Western Visayas.

Labor groups, however,  claimed that the increase is insufficient.

Earlier, petitions have been filed before the Metro Manila wage board, seeking to increase the daily minimum income of P537 to to P1,007.

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