THE regional wage board in Metro Manila is now looking to start the review for a possible new round of minimum- wage hike within its jurisdiction.
This, after the one-year ban for the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) to process a new wage adjustment finally lapsed last Friday (November 22) after the anniversary date of its previous wage order, Wage Order (WO) NCR-22.
“After the anniversary date [of WO NCR-22] we can now initiate a motu propio [review]. That is, if..no party which will file a wage petition,” RTWPB-NCR Chairman Sarah Buena S. Mirasol told BusinessMirror in a phone interview.
As of last Thursday, Mirasol said they have yet to receive any wage petitions, which are usually filed by labor groups.
WO NCR-22 raised minimum- wage rates in Metro Manila by P25. Currently, the prevailing minimum-wage rate in the region ranges from P500 to P537.
Mirasol said they may discuss the possible motu propio review during their next board meeting next week.
She, however, noted that their priority during the meeting will be the wage hike for household service workers (HSW) or kasambahay in NCR.
“Remember the last wage increase for kasambahay was on December 16, 2017. So they will be our priority,” Mirasol said.
The RTWPB-NCR already completed the necessary stakeholder consultations and public hearing for the said wage adjustment in previous weeks.
During the consultations and hearing, Mirasol said a few stakeholders are still against the minimum wage adjustment for HSWs, but most support the possible pay hike. “During the public hearing, we already have an understanding there will be an increase, but up to how much, that is what we still need to deliberate,” Mirasol said.
Currently, the monthly minimum wage rate for HSWs in NCR is pegged at P3,500. Mirasol said they may hold another board meeting to deliberate the wage adjustment for HSWs, but personally, she said, she wants it completed next week.
“For my part I would rather like the deliberation completed [in our next meeting] since we already held a public hearing and consultation. We would now be basing our decision on the economic indicators, as well as the concerns and position papers of both employers and employees,” Mirasol said.
The seven-man RTWPB-NCR usually decides as a whole through voting of its members. Its members includes representatives from the labor and employer sector, and the government.