All regions will see an increase in daily minimum wages before the year ends, the Department of Labor and Employment said Friday.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the increases are being carefully reviewed and considered by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs).
“From what I see on the direction of their process, maybe all regions will have minimum wage adjustments before the year ends,” he said.
Laguesma said the wage boards are conducting public hearings in three regions, which will be followed by wage deliberations and the issuance of wage orders.
Recently, the National Capital Region wage board granted a P40 increase for minimum workers in Metro Manila.
This brought the daily minimum wage in the region from P57 to P610 for the non-agriculture sector and from P533 to P573 for the agriculture sector, service and retail establishments employing 15 or less workers, and manufacturing establishments regularly employing less than 10 workers.
The National Wages and Productivity Commission also approved the wage increase orders submitted by the RTWPBs in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Soccsksargen.
The petitions were granted amid the continuing rise in the price of basic goods and commodities.
Meanwhile, the DOLE expressed full support to the recently-signed “Trabaho Para sa Bayan” Act, which aims to address labor market challenges through the creation of a master plan for employment generation and recovery.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the act into law on Thursday.
Laguesma expressed optimism that the initiative will further generate employment and livelihood opportunities for workers and their families.