MINIMUM WAGE HIKE. Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board Chairperson Lilia Estillore presides over a public hearing to determine the minimum wage increase for minimum wage earners in Central Visayas in Cebu City on Tuesday (Aug. 20, 2024). Estillore said the minimum wage increase may take effect by October. (Photo courtesy of RTWPB-7)
CEBU CITY – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Central Visayas started on Tuesday the first of five public hearings to determine the wage increase for minimum wage earners, a labor official said.
Department of Labor and Employment Director and RTWPB-7 Chairperson Lilia Estillore said the new wage increase will take effect in October.
“We are yet to decide as to the amount (of the wage increase) after a series of hearing that we will conduct region-wide,” she said on the sidelines of the public hearing at DepEd Eco-Tech Center here.
Estillore said the wage increase would cover only the minimum wage earners.
“If you are receiving a salary that is higher than the minimum wage you’re not covered. So there might wage distortion that must be resolved by the labor-management council. If not resolved, it would be brought to the NLRC (National Labor Relations Commission),” she added.
The National Wages and Productivity Commission defines the income required to cover the cost of living, including all food and non-food necessities, as being enough for savings and investments to ensure social security.
Accordingly, a living wage is essential to meet a worker’s basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare and other critical expenses.
Labor groups proposed a PHP150 wage increase.
The RTWPB-7 will be in Balamban on Aug. 28, Bogo City on Aug. 30, Dumaguete City on Sept. 3 and Tagbilaran City on Sept. 4. (PNA)
