Pay hike for state workers in July – Palace

MANILA, Philippines – Government workers can expect another round of salary increase this coming July to help them cope with rising prices of some goods and services, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the third batch of the salary increase for state employees is mandated by the adjustments approved in the Salary Standardization Law III.

The SSL III mandated the four-year salary increase for the government workforce which started in July 2009. The scheme, which seeks to revise the compensation and position classification system, reportedly would cost the government P109 billion from 2009 to 2012.

“There is a Joint Resolution No. 4 and it will take effect on the first of July this year. Any increase in the wage hike of government is part of the application of the Salary Standardization,” Lacierda said in a Palace news briefing.

“We are in the third tranche because the end of the Salary Standardization Law will be next year, 2012. It is a four-year program,” he added.

Lacierda issued the statement after a group of government employees sought a P6,000 increase in their minimum pay amid imminent increase in transport and oil prices. (Genalyn D. Kabiling, Manila Bulletin)