Employers urged to comply with new wage rates in Central Visayas

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has urged all employers to comply with the new minimum wage rates applicable in Central VisayasNew wage rates for private workers (Wage Order No. ROVII-23) and domestic workers (ROVII-D.W.No. 03) in the region became effective on June 14.According to Labor Undersecretary and Dole 7 concurrent regional director Victor del Rosario, it is imperative both for the employers and the workers that they become fully aware of their rights and responsibilities in relation to the new wage orders.“We are enjoining all employers to abide by the labor laws particularly on the new wage rates applicable in Central Visayas. Workers and employers’ organizations can also help disseminate information on minimum wages to their members and provide related advice and support,” Del Rosario said in a statement.Under Wage Order No. ROVII-23 for the private sector, workers in the Non-Agriculture classification specifically those in the Class A cities and municipalities or the expanded Metro Cebu area will receive P435 daily. Those in Class B Cities and municipalities shall be paid P397. The minimum earners in Class C municipalities will receive P387.In the Agriculture and Non-Agriculture with less than 10 workers classifications, those working in areas falling under Class A cities and municipalities will be paid P425. Those in Class B areas shall receive P392. Those working in Class C localities, on the other hand, will get a P382 daily wage.Wage Order No. ROVII-D.W.03 for domestic workers that also took effect on June 14 provides a P500 increase in their existing monthly wage. Kasambahays working in chartered cities and first class municipalities will be paid P5,500 per month. For those working in other municipalities, they will receive P4,500.“We want to empower workers to claim their rights. In the same way, we want the employers to also fully grasp the application of the new minimum wage rates and the computations needed should there be any wage distortions emerging in the workplace. That is why, a heightened awareness on this development is highly essential,” the labor official said.He encouraged workers and employers to connect with the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB 7) for clarifications on the new Wage Orders most especially on wage distortions or such occurrences when the usual differentials in wage rates between groups of employees in an establishment are drastically reduced or eliminated due to mandated wage increases.“With the RTWPB being a tripartite body, a participative process of minimum wage fixing was ensured allowing the minimum wage to be set at a level agreed to by workers and employers’ representatives. This has given the new minimum rates more legitimacy and with that, we are fervently hoping for our social partners to also help facilitate compliance,” he noted.DOLE 7, he said, will continue conducting inspection as a way of checking the compliance of establishments.“Let us remember that high rates of non-compliance have negative consequences not only for workers and their families, whose rights are violated, but also for compliant employers, as it gives non-compliant enterprises an illegitimate cost advantage,” he said.Workers who are paid below the set minimum wage rates may report to and visit the nearest DOLE office in their area.