Minimum wage in EV ‘may’ increase, consultations ongoing

By DOLE-8
June 26, 2019

TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Region VIII, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office VIII, will now be on its fourth leg of public consultations on the minimum wage issue after successfully conducting three consultations in Ormoc City, Maasin City and Naval, Biliran in the past three months.

In a press conference conducted last June 18, 2019 during the Kalayaan Jobs and Business Fair in Catbalogan City, DOLE Regional Office VIII Director Yahya A. Centi, who chairs the RTWPB VIII, clarified that there is no final and official say yet as to the issuance of a new wage order for Region VIII.

“We cannot tell yet as of now, but maybe, depending on the results of the consultations, our workers here in Eastern Visayas may get wage increase this year”, said Director Centi.

Last June 17, 2019, the third public consultation was held at Fragoch Tourist Inn in Naval, attended by close to forty (40) participants representing the labor and management sector in the province of Biliran.

Prior to the workshop and open forum which are the highlights of the activity, important topics were first tackled to shed light to participants relative to the minimum wage issue.

Director Celerina Bato of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) presented updates on the prices of basic good commodities and its suggested retail price while Director Meylene Rosales of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) reported the latest economic condition of the region.

The next series of public consultations are set in Calbayog City on July 1, 2019, in Catarman, Northern Samar on July 2 and in Borongan City on July 5.