SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) conducted a public hearing on September 30 in this city to discuss a possible adjustment to the minimum wage for private sector workers in the Ilocos Region.
The hearing comes approximately a year after the last minimum wage adjustment in the region, where the current rates stand at P435 per day for non-agricultural sectors with 10 or more employees and P402 per day for non-agricultural sectors with fewer than 10 employees, as well as those in the agricultural sector.
Representatives from labor groups and the management sector presented their respective positions on the minimum wage, aiming to establish a fair and balanced rate for all parties involved.
Regional Director Exequiel Ronie Guzman of the Department of Labor and Employment emphasized the importance of considering both the labor and management perspectives to address workers’ needs while balancing employers’ capacity to pay, all within the framework of legal obligations.
Labor representative Catherine Pangan emphasized that any adjustment to the minimum wage should take into account the financial challenges faced by minimum wage earners, particularly in meeting their families’ basic needs, transportation costs, and other essential expenses.
“Many workers are requesting subsidized or free transportation and allowances because most of their earnings go to food expenses. They also face challenges when their children get sick or when tuition fees increase,” Pangan said.
Pangan echoed the calls of labor groups for wage subsidies, citing the rising cost of living and the workers’ limited ability to save due to financial strain.
Salvador Poserio, a business owner and representative of the management sector, meanwhile expressed empathy for the plight of minimum wage earners, stressing the importance of prioritizing their welfare as they play a vital role in the success and sustainability of private companies and businesses.
“As a business owner, I care deeply about the welfare of my workers because it directly impacts our own success, especially for our families,” Poserio said.
The public hearing is a pivotal part of the government’s commitment to ensuring fair and sustainable wage adjustments for workers in the Ilocos Region.
In Region 1, these public hearings also took place across the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Pangasinan.
Following the public hearing, deliberation among the board members will ensue.
This will culminate in a meeting of the RTWPB to consolidate and discuss the gathered recommendations.
Final wage orders for private establishments and kasambahays will be issued by the board if deemed necessary, which will be confirmed by the National Wages and Productivity Commission and will take effect after publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the region. (AMB/CCMT/KKLG, PIA La Union)
