THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said there will be no salary increase for minimum wage earners for the rest of the year as this is the implementing policy they adopted currently.

"As a policy, Dole is not recommending an increase in the general wages at this time in the country because doing so might result in layoffs and the possible closure of companies," said National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) Executive Director Ciriaco Lagunzad.

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"The economy is still fragile and that increases at this time might lead to negative effects," he added.

The NWPC official said the policy is based on the fact that the economy has not yet recovered from the global financial crisis.

As present, the focus is on preserving employment as well as the continuous promotion, enhancement and viability of companies.

Meanwhile, Lagunzad noted that the one-year moratoriums on wage adjustments on the approved rates by all the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) have already lapsed.

He explained that there are no impediments to any labor group to file their respective petitions for wage adjustments.

Under the law, no petition for wage adjustment may be entertained by the RTWPBs within a year's time after their last wage order.

At present, workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) have a minimum wage rate of P382, which took effect last June 14, 2008.

On the other hand, Lagunzad said that Alliance for Progressive Labor (APL) has already filed for a salary adjustment in Central Visayas asking for an across-the-board increase of P126.50.

But the NWPC head said the chairman of Central Visayas wage board has already declared that there would be no wage increase in the region for the rest of the year.

"I cannot preempt the decision of Region 7 but they are guided by the criteria that they use in deciding petitions for wage increase," Lagunzad said at the sidelines of the National Policy Forum on Wages and Productivity held at the Bayview hotel in Manila.

Workers in Central Visayas are getting a minimum salary of P267 effective since June 16, 2008. (FP/Sunnex)