TACLOBAN CITY — Minimum wage earners in Eastern Visayas will likely receive a daily pay hike next month after the conduct of provincial consultations, the chairperson of the Regional Tripartite and Wages Board (RTWPB) in the region said on Tuesday.
“Based on consultations, the board is inclined to adjust wages, but we have no specific amount yet. The announcement is on May 1, but the new wage order will take effect within the first two weeks of May,” Joel Gonzales, RTWPB chairperson and regional director of the Department of Labor.
From March 14 to 22, the board held public consultations in Maasin City, Southern Leyte; Catarman, Northern Samar; Ormoc City, Leyte; Catbalogan City, Samar; and Borongan City, Eastern Samar.
The public hearing in this city next week will cap the five-province consultations.
Citing proposals gathered during consultations, Gonzales said both workers and employers agreed on PHP10 to PHP30 range of daily pay increase.
The consultation checked the economic conditions, adjustment of prices of basic goods and services, and impact of wage adjustment to both workers and business owners.
Since February, the wage body has been evaluating the impact of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law to workers in the private sector.
President Rodrigo Duterte on December 19, 2017 signed the TRAIN law, which imposes higher taxes on fuel, cars, coal, tobacco, mining, and some sugar-sweetened beverages.
The measure exempts those earning an annual taxable income of PHP250,000 and below from paying personal income tax.
The official believes that excise tax in petroleum products has raised the prices of basic goods and services.
The review is timely since the existing wage order turned one year last February 13. Under the law, a wage order could not be superseded by a new one within a year.
Wage Order No. 19 issued last year raised the daily pay of minimum wage earners in Eastern Visayas between PHP10 to PHP25. (Sarwell Meniano/PNA)
