DBM to review wages of gov’t workers next year

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will conduct a review of the wages of state workers next year, to determine the reasonable amount of adjustment the government can grant, an official of the agency said on Saturday, November 26.

“Magkakaroon ulit tayo ng isa pang pag-aaral sa 2023… Ito ay mahalagang mapag-aralan natin ang mga kinakailangan nating suweldo sa gobyerno,” DBM Compensation Bureau Director Gerald Janda said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

Several groups have appealed for a minimum monthly salary of P33,000 for state employees amid the continuous spike in the prices of consumer goods and services. Minimum wage earners in the government reportedly earn P12,517 per month.

The Budget department earlier said that raising the minimum wage for government employees would necessitate the passage of a new law.

“Mahalagang konsiderasyon na hindi lang pagtaas kundi ‘yung reasonable level ng budget na kinakailangan na pag-implement ng batas. Kaya next year ay pag-aaralang mabuti kung ano ang suhestiyon ng mga ibang sektor at stakeholders para masiguro kung kakayanin ng gobyerno,” Janda said.

The DBM said that the last tranche of the modification of the salary schedule for civilian personnel pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 11466, or the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) 5, will be implemented in 2023.

“We are recognizing sa panawagan ng iba’t-ibang sektor para sa pagtaas ng suweldo. Pero mayroon tayong SSL 5, kaya sa 2023 ay magkakaroon ng pagtaas ng [suweldo ng] lahat ng manggagagawa ng pamahalaan na nakapaloob sa RA 11466,” she said.

(Mores Heramis/ABS-CBN News photo) Members of different government employees associations held a protest outside the Department of Budget and Management in Mendiola, Manila last week, to call for the increase of minimum salaries for state workers.