Calabarzon workers to get 2nd tranche of wage hike in December – official

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MANILA, Philippines — Workers in Calabarzon may expect another wage increase next month, a regional official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Friday.

DOLE-Calabarzon Director Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla said the upcoming salary adjustment is the second tranche of the increase it previously approved. The first tranche took effect last June.

She said that for the first tranche of the wage hike in the region, the minimum salary per day was raised to P435 – which is anticipated to increase to P470 next month.

“Sa Calabarzon, nagkaroon tayo ng wage increase nito lang June – from P400 tayo ay nasa P435 – then dahil ito ay hinati sa dalawa, by December, magkakaroon na naman tayo ng second tranche, so dito iyong mga growth area natin ay magkakaroon na ng sahod ang mga empleyado na P470 per day,” Trayvilla said in a public briefing.

(We had a wage increase last June in Calabarzon – from P400, it became P435 – then since we divided the salary increase into two, by December, we will again have the second tranche, so in our growth areas, employees will have a salary of P470 per day.)

Trayvilla also noted several reasons for the inflation, which ballooned to 7.7 percent in October and is expected to soar further, and gave assurance that they are monitoring its movement with the Department of Trade and Industry and National Economic and Development Authority.

According to her, only P10 is lacking in the minimum wage, based on the National Wages and Productivity Board study. She expressed confidence that the upcoming P470 new minimum wage in Calabarzon can address the latest inflation.

DOLE Secretary Buenavido Laguesma had already sought the Regional Wage Board for a possible wage increase in 2023 to ease the impact of inflation in food and other basic commodities. –Alyssa Joy Quevedo, trainee

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