P35 wage hike in MM starts July 17

The daily minimum wage for workers in the National Capital Region NCR) will increase by P35 on July 17.

- MAYEN JAYMALIN

Implementation of the new wage order in Metro Manila will not be affected by the pending appeal filed by labor groups, according to Department of Labor and EmploymentNCR director Sarah Mirasol.

“The appeal will not defer the effectivity of the wage order, which will start on July 17,” Mirasol said over the weekend.

A petition to reverse the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board’s wage order was filed by the Unity for Wage Increase Now (UWIN) and other labor groups before the National Wages and Productivity Commission.

Labor groups asked the NWPC to set aside the P35 wage hike and declare a daily minimum wage of P1,207, which is considered by the IBON Foundation as the average family living wage in the NCR.

They also demanded Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma’s resignation for failing to “uphold the interest of workers.”