DOLE-7 eyes firms as wage hike takes effect

The P20 minimum wage increase approved by the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB) took effect yesterday in Central Visayas.

From P285 a day, the minimum wage for Metro Cebu is now P305 a day. The amount is less for other localities in the region depending on the classification of the town and city.

Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga of the Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE 7) said his office was closely monitoring business establishments in Cebu, starting with Mandaue City, to check if they were implementing the wage increase.

“According to law, all business establishments in Central Visayas should implement Wage Order 16. There are no exemptions aside from those running household and personal services,” Sarcauga said.

Companies that have not yet started implementing the wage order will be given two payroll periods to adjust. The labor department will issue a “5-day finding” to those companies who will not comply.

Sarcauga said if these firms wouldn’t implement after five days, they would be investigated and if lapses are found a writ of compliance would be issued against them.

He also encouraged workers to report to DOLE their employers who don’t give them the additional P20.

Dennis Wong, vice president of International Pharmaceuticals Inc., said his company was ready for the adjustment and is implementing the wage increase.

“We’ve been ready for the last several months,” he said.

He said IPI gave a P10 wage increase for employees three months ago and would only have to add annother P10 to comply with the wage order.

Wong, a trustee of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said all CCCI member establishments had no problem implementing the increase except for export companies that depended on the economy of the United States.

Clara Cauba, a 57-year-old warehouse employee for 32 years, said the P20 increase was too small to make a difference.

Alejandro Dandan, a laborer, said the P20 daily increase wouldn’t match the increasing prices of basic commodities.

However, for Romel Glipa, a promotion merchandiser, the P20 increase was better than nothing.

“May nalang, makadungag ta’s ikapalit ug sud-an (At least we can add to our budget for food)” he said.

Lawyer Ernesto Carreon of the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said he was disheartened by the small increase but that he still wanted it implemented because somehow it could still help the laborers.

He said he backed Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma’ s proposal to form a labor commission in the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

He said the project would be a good venue for the labor sector to air their concerns, which would hopefully be addressed with the help of the Catholic Church.