THE local office of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) assured the public particularly the private sector workers that a wage increase may be out by June this year for Dumaguete City and the rest of Negros Oriental.
Dole District Officer lawyer Jose Ogang explained that his office is just waiting for the final decision from the business sector and the regional wage board after the May 19 public hearing on the proposed wage hike in Cebu City.
Ogang further said Dole has invited the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and local labor leaders to attend the public hearing, which will tackle the wage hike petition filed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).
"I am positive about the increase of wages for our employees but I cannot tell the amount of increase for now because the board will have to decide on it," said Ogang.
With the 7.8 inflation rate of the Philippine peso, Ogang said the wage hike should it be implemented will help local wage earners stave off the price hikes of basic commodities.
According to Ogang, the new salary hike may have a low compliance rate on the part of the small and big establishments and may also result to the laying off of some workers.
Several sectors in the labor front had been struggling and demanding a legislated wage increase after a series of skyrocketing prices of the basic commodities that eroded the peso purchasing power. (EBS)
