35,680 firms target of wage compliance

Wage boards have approved an increase in the minimum daily pay in four Mindanao regions, with workers in Davao provinces getting an extra P21 per day.

Meanwhile, Labor inspection teams have fanned out to enforce the wage law and ensure that private workers are getting the benefits due them, Labor Secretary-designate Rosalinda Baldoz said on Wednesday. The campaign initially targets 35, 680 business establishments, Baldoz said.

The tripartite boards raised the minimum pay in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), Region 11 (Davao), Caraga, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

In Northern Mindanao, each worker will get a P13 increase in the daily wage; their P12-cost of living allowance will be incorporated into the basic wage.

The wage hike brings the minimum pay for non-agriculture workers in Northern Mindanao to P269, from P256.

Workers in Davao will get a P21 wage increase. Those in the non-agriculture industry will receive a basic pay of P286 per day from P265 per day. Farm workers will get P276 per day, from P255. Workers in the retail/service industry employing more than ten people will have P286 from the previous P265, while those employing not more than ten workers will have P255 per day from P234.00.

The regional board in Caraga granted a P10 wage increase and integrated the P10 COLA into the basic wage. Workers in the Non-agriculture industry will receive P243 from the previous minimum wage of P233.00.  Those in the agriculture industry will get P233.00 and P213.00  in the plantation and non-plantation area, respectively.

In the ARMM, the regional board approved a P12 wage hike for all sectors in the industry thus bringing the minimum wage to P222 per day from P210.

Meanwhile, the Labor inspection teams will see to it that private companies comply with labor laws and standards such as the minimum wage; 13th month, holiday, premium, overtime, and night differential pay; leave and other benefits, such as premium contributions to SSS, Pag-ibig, and PhilHealth.

The inspection teams will zero in on 35,680 establishments, Baldoz said.

These establishments include security agencies, manpower and manning, subcontractors, co-operatives, manufacturing, and restaurants/fast food enterprises employing 10-99 workers.

Violators will be given time to correct their deficiencies or face sanctions, Baldoz said. Vito Barcelo, Manila Standard Today