THE NEW minimum wage for Metro Manila was announced at P500-P537 starting Nov. 22, reflecting a P25 increase, the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) said Wednesday.
“The new minimum wage rates for Metro Manila workers will take effect on Nov. 22, 2018,” the NWPC said in a social media posting on Wednesday, two days after the commission and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) officially confirmed the P25 wage increase for private sector minimum wage workers on Monday.
Wage Order No. NCR-22 was released to the public by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board — National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) on Wednesday. The decision was approved unanimously by the board on Oct. 30 with only labor representative Angelita D. Señorin dissenting and German N. Pascua Jr. approving but with reservations.
Workers in agriculture (plantation and non-plantation); retail/service establishments employing less than 15 workers; and manufacturing establishments employing less than 10 workers will be entitled to a daily minimum salary of P500. On the other hand, non-agriculture workers’ pay was set at P537.
For minimum wage earners in private schools, the wage order states: “all private educational institutions shall implement the wage rates prescribed herein starting School Year 2019-2020.”
Those exempted from implementing the new wage adjustment are distressed establishments; retail/service establishments employing less than 10 workers; and establishments affected by calamities.
The wage order also provides that any party objecting to the new wage hike may appeal before the NCR wage board within 10 days of the wage order’s release.
“Any party aggrieved may file an appeal to NWPC, through the Board, in three printed copies not later than 10 days from publication of this Wage order,” it said.
Associated Labor Union — Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) Spokesperson Alan A. Tanjusay has said that the labor coalition plans to appeal against the P25 wage increase. — Gillian M. Cortez
