Metro Manila wage board set to convene anew June 20

Inquirer file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) will hold a public hearing on a minimum wage increase on June 20, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said on Friday.

Dole said the regional wage board received a petition for minimum wage increase filed by the Unity for Wage Increase Now (Uwin) last May 24.

The labor group sought an increase in the daily minimum wage for workers in private establishments in Metro Manila amounting to P597.

READ: Marcos presses regional wage board to review workers’ average pay

The current daily minimum wage in Metro Manila is P610 for workers in the nonagriculture sector and P573 for workers in the agriculture sector, service/retail establishments employing 15 workers or less, and manufacturing establishments regularly employing less than 10 workers.

Dole said employers, workers, employer associations, and labor organizations may attend the public hearing which will be conducted at 9 a.m. on June 20 at the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City.

They may also submit position papers to the regional wage board office in Malate, Manila, by mail or email on or before June 18.

The RTWPB-NCR published its notice of public hearing for minimum wage adjustment last June 4 in accordance with Republic Act No. 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act which requires all wage boards to give notice to employee and employer groups, provincial, city, local government officials, and other interested parties when conducting public hearings or consultations.

Last year, the Metro Maila wage board was the first to issue a wage hike order on June 26, which provided for a P40 pay hike.

During the 2024 Labor Day celebration in Malacañang, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed the RTWPBs to review minimum wage rates in their respective regions.

He also ordered the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) to review its rules and ensure that RTWPBs maintain a regular and predictable schedule for wage review and issuance to reduce uncertainty and enhance fairness for all stakeholders.

The NWPC earlier said a total of 15 wage orders were issued by the regional wage boards last year, benefiting at least 4.1 million minimum wage earners.

However, labor economists estimate that minimum wages across the country are still not enough to meet a typical family’s needs to cover food and nonfood expenses despite the wage increases.

NWPC minimum wage data showed that the average national minimum wage was at P440, but average minimum family expenses stood at P1,207, resulting in a national wage gap of P767.