DOLe: no wage hike for now

Workers nationwide are unlikely to get pay increases despite the spiraling cost of essential commodities.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma yesterday ruled out the possibility of heeding the call of workers for a salary adjustment at this time but gave assurance that the government is trying to provide non-wage reliefs.

“Minsan lang maglabas ng wage order, unless there is a supervening event that will justify. So they have to argue on that,” Laguesma said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum.

For the past weeks, Laguesma said he consulted with different labor groups and pay hikes and prices of commodities were among the issues they discussed.

The chief of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said he met with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and tackled possible “networking” with companies in extending non-wage benefits for workers.

“We also know that not only wages should be considered,” he said in Filipino, but also non-wage benefits like the free rides for students provided by the Department of Transportation.

All the Regional Wages and Productivity Boards recently issued wage orders granting salary increases for minimum wage earners.

In an interview with One News’ “The Chiefs” on Tuesday night, Laguesma admitted difficulty in balancing the demands of workers and employers.

He expressed optimism that with his scheduled meetings with business groups, they would be able to discuss the suggestions of workers and come out with mutually beneficial arrangements.

As this developed, Laguesma expressed support for a proposal to expand the incentives for employees under the work-from-home (WFH) setup.

He said the WFH arrangements benefitted workers, especially during the pandemic, and should therefore be expanded.

Laguesma contradicted an existing policy requiring Business Process Outsourcing employees to physically report for work in an effort to boost the economy.

“I think we should understand… and I’m thankful for the Telecommuting Act because it’s as if lawmakers became visionary in anticipating the pandemic,” he said.

While working at home, Laguesma said, workers are still spending money and can still help boost the economy.

He said a review of the Telecommuting Act (Republic Act 11165) is among his priorities.

The review, he said, could proceed as the proposal of Sen. Francis Tolentino to amend RA 11165 is being tackled at the Senate.

He said the DOLE has discussed the issue with the DTI and the Department of Finance.

Aside from reviewing the implementing rules and regulations of the WFH setup, Laguesma said the DOLE would also look into the existing rules on contractualization.

Laguesma said the DOLE would try to find ways to prevent abuses of existing regulations allowing legitimate contracting out services.

Tolentino is proposing amendments to RA 11165 and seeks to grant an additional P1,000 monthly to workers in government and the private sector under the WFH setup to help them defray additional costs like utility bills.

Tolentino said the law was meant to encourage the private sector to implement telecommuting work arrangements for their employees, and has become more relevant due to the pandemic.

He said the pandemic has forced Filipinos to embrace telecommuting and working from home as employers, multinational corporations and micro, small and medium enterprises have adopted the hybrid work setup of onsite and work-from-home methods.