DOLE Undersecretary Joji Aragon pointed out that salaries must be given in full and employers should not do such things.
“Kung ano po ang nararapat na ibigay sa isang buwan o every 15 days, ay dapat nilang matanggap para naman matugunan ang pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya (They should receive what is due them every month or every 15 days to address the needs on their families),” Aragon reminded.
The Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) explained there are instances when salaries of employees are reduced under the pandemic situation, but stressed that there must be a clear agreement between the employer and employee and the pay must not be lower than the minimum wage.
“Possible rin na baka naman ang sweldo ay 1,200 a day, binabayaran siya ng 500+. Minimum wage ‘yun. Allowed ‘yun. DOLE ang nagbigay ng permiso noon (It is possible that if their pay is 1,200 a day, they are paid 500 plus which is the minimum wage. It is allowed. DOLE issued that permission),” ECOP Pres. Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said.
The DOLE has encouraged workers who have the same concerns may coordinate with the agency to address the problem.
Meanwhile, the DOLE said that although workers’ concern on salary increase is understandable, there are still factors to be considered prior to the implementation of a minimum wage hike such as inflation rate.
“Ang dapat pong ipakita both ng labor at management ay ang pagtaas ng ating productivity or output para ho mapantayan natin yung pag-recover naman ng industriya at sector (Both labor and management should show an increase in productivity or output to meet the recovery of industries and sectors),” Aragon advised.
– Report from Kenneth Paciente
