Minimum wage hike petitions filed in 6 regions so far –DOLE

An official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday said six regional wage boards had received petitions to increase the minimum wage.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez said the petitions would undergo a process that include hearings and public consultations.

"Alam naman po natin na meron nang mga rehiyon, kung hindi ako nagkakamali, anim na rehiyon kung saan nakasampa na 'yung mga petisyon for wage increase,” he said.

(We know that there were regions, if I am not mistaken, six regions where petitions for a wage increase had been filed.)

Benavidez said he could not give an exact period when the decisions would be released as the regional boards still had to process the petitions based on rules and regulations.

Nevertheless, the DOLE official believed that the decisions would be out in May or June. He noted that some petitions had been filed recently.

On Tuesday, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III told GMA News Online that 12 petitions and two workers’ manifestos have been filed so far in the National Capital Region and Regions 3, 4A, 6, 7, and 8.

Earlier, Bello ordered Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards across the country to review minimum wages.

He said the current P537 daily minimum wage in the NCR may no longer be enough to cover commodities such as food, electricity, and water bills.

Malacañang supported the minimum wage reviews. — DVM/KG, GMA News