Wage boards reviewing possible adjustments in 9 regions

Wage boards in Metro Manila and eight other regions have started reviewing the socio-economic conditions in their areas of jurisdiction, the Department of Labor and Employment said. DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said this was after the wage orders issued by these regions’ Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) reached their “anniversary dates.” Metro Manila’s RTWPB’s Wage Order No. 17 became a year old last June 3. The other eight regions whose wage orders reached anniversary dates as of June 13 include: - Region 11 - Region 4-B - Region 5 - Region 12 - Region 4-A - Region 2 - Region 13 (Caraga) - Region 6 Baldoz said that of the nine regions, only Metro Manila and Regions 6 and 11 have received petitions for wage hikes. The petitioners in those cases cited continued increases in fuel prices and basic commodities as basis. “Our wage boards are assessing the needs of workers and their families, the capacity of employers to pay, the comparable wages and incomes across regions, and the economic development requirements in the light of prevailing socio-economic conditions in every region,” Baldoz said. — DVM, GMA News