Appropriate increase in income via wage boards backed

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A National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) official yesterday said  while inflation has eased due to lower food prices, its effect may not be immediately felt by the public.

NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon in a media briefing after the sectoral meeting Malacanang, said there is still a need for an increase in income to better appreciate the easing of inflation.

But when asked if she is in favor of a legislated increase in salaries, Edillon said the current wage system, where petitions for increases are deliberated by regional wage board (RWBs), is “working.”

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“(The current system) is working right now because the regional wage boards are composed of employers, employees and the government. They are more aware of the situation in their regions.  You really have to balance the labor situation and the investment situation,” Edillon said.

She  said 11 RWBs have  issued wage increase orders which were all decided by consensus after careful deliberations.

The NEDA and Finance Department reported during the sectoral meeting presided by President Marcos Jr. about the latest inflation rate of 4.9 percent in October, down from 6.1 percent in September.

“What we need is an appropriate increase in income. This is where the government programs come in to make sure that we increase the employability of our workers, we improve on their skills, so this is an all-of-government approach),” she added.

Providing more quality jobs to increase one’s income is one of the goals of the Marcos administration.

Meanwhile,  the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) yesterday said  the Zamboanga Peninsula wage board motu proprio issued Wage Order No. RIX-22 that grants a P30 daily minimum wage increase across all sectors upon effectivity, and a second tranche (effective Feb.y 1, 2024) of P13 for retail/service establishments employing 10 to 30 workers.

“This brings the daily minimum wages to P381 for the non-agriculture sector and retail/service establishment with 31 or more workers; P368 for retail/service establishments employing 10-30 workers, which will further increase to P381 upon effectivity of the second tranche; and P368 for the agriculture sector,” said the NWPC.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – Region IX also motu proprio issued Wage Order No. RIX-DW-04, which increases the monthly minimum wage of kasambahays by P600.

“The monthly wage rate for chartered cities and first-class municipalities in the region will now be P4,600; and P4,100 for other municipalities,” said NWPC.

The NWPC said the wage orders issued by the Zamboanga Peninsula wage board are set to take effect on November 12, 2023.

It said the wage order is expected to directly benefit 56,848 minimum wage earners in the private establishments in Region IX.

The wage increases for kasambahays are expected to benefit a total of 18,984 domestic workers, or around 2,491 on live-in arrangements, and 16,493 on live-out settings. With Gerard Naval

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