ILOILO City – No employer is exempted from applying the minimum daily wage increase in Western Visayas, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6.
DOLE inspectors will troop to private employers accused of not complying with Wage Order No. 24, which takes effect starting July 12, Regional Director Johnson Cañete said.
“Dapat i-comply nila. Obligation nila iyan na i-comply,” said Cañete, also the chairman of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).
Under Wage Order No. 24, the new minimum daily wage rate in non-agriculture, industrial and commercial establishments employing more than 10 workers is P365, up from the previous P323.50.
Similar establishments employing less than 10 workers must give a minimum daily wage of P295, higher than the previous P271.50.
In the agriculture sector the new minimum daily wage is P295 for plantation and non-plantation workers, who previously received P281.50 and P271.50, respectively.
All minimum wage earners must check their pay slips on July 31 to see if their salaries were raised, said Cañete.
Those who have not received any increase may contact the Complaint Section of the DOLE-6, the official said.
Cañete assured that they will accommodate all complaints and send as soon as possible an inspector to the subject employer.
“Pupuntahan iyong company, titingnan iyong payroll para malaman kung totoo ba ang sinabi nila (employee) na hindi na-effect iyong wage order sa kanilang sweldo,” he said.
So far, according to Cañete, DOLE-6 has not yet encountered an employer who refused to comply with wage orders.
The Labor department official clarified that the wage increase is only for minimum wage earners.
“Kung beyond ka na sa minimum wage, hindi ka na covered ng Wage Order (No. 24),” he stressed.
Employers who want to appeal Wage Order No. 24 may submit a position paper within 10 days after the July 12 effectivity date, said Cañete.
The RTWPB-6 plans to call for a news conference on July 11 to remind employers about the new wage order, and hold information caravans in the provinces.
Aklan province and Boracay Island are exempted from the July 12 effectivity date of the new wage order.
“Sa Aklan sa November pa, iyong Boracay three months after mag-reopen ang [isla],” said Cañete.
The wage board is giving particular consideration to employers in the island resort, which has been closed off to tourists and undergoing rehabilitation since April 26, he said./PN
