Workers get post-poll gift: P10 hike in pay

BUTUAN CITY—Private sector workers in the two Agusan and Surigao provinces and their component cities got a post-election gift in the form of a P10 across the board salary increase that the Caraga region’s wage board approved.

Joel Gonzales, director of the Department of Labor and Employment in Caraga, said the National Wages Productivity Commission (NWPC) has concurred with the increase that was approved as early as March for minimum wage earners.

Gonzales said while the increase was approved earlier, it will only take effect on Friday because several requirements had to be satisfied first, including the 15-day publication of the notice of approval.

Starting last Friday, minimum wage workers in the non-agricultural sector in Caraga will be earning P268 per day while those working in the agricultural sector will be getting P258. In other sectors, minimum wage earners will take a daily pay of P238.

Gonzales said the labor department would monitor all small, medium and large-scale establishments for compliance with the new wage order because these are the most possible violators.

“As far as compliance is concerned, we don’t have problems with large mining, wood-based and manufacturing industries like what we have with small and medium enterprises engaged in retail and services,” he said.

Gonzales said the DOLE has records to show that these types of companies are the ones most penalized for wage rate violations.

Companies suffering from a slump in production, however, may seek exemption from the wage order but depending on the circumstances. Franklin Caliguid, Inquirer Mindanao