Ilocos wage board reviews pay rates

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines   â€“ The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in the Ilocos region is reviewing the current wage rates for a possible pay hike for private workers amid the increasing prices of basic commodities.

Lawyer Rio Ariel Soriano of the regional wage board said the review was prompted by a Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) directive for a review of the last wage order even with the absence of a petition for a wage increase from the labor sector. 

“The basic procedure is that after a year of the last issuance of a wage order, there must be a petition from the labor sector for a public hearing on wage increase. But since there was none, the DOLE initiated it,” he said.

According to the state-run Philippine Information Agency in Ilocos, the current daily minimum wage in the region ranges from P205, P223, P244 to P253, depending on the type of business. The last wage order was issued more than a year ago.

The Ilocos region (Region 1) covers Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.

Grace Ursua, DOLE director for the Ilocos region, said the wage review was in response to the rising costs of basic commodities and the workers’ needs.

“A minimum of 90 days from the hearing is given to the regional board to decide whether or not to increase the minimum wage, in what amount and form; the period includes publication and for counter-petition, if any,” the DOLE said.