THE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB 7) revealed that at least nine companies have filed their applications for exemption from wage hike.

The RTWPB 7 approved on May 24, 2022 the P31 daily wage increase for workers in Central Visayas, raising the minimum wage from P404 to P435.

Lawyer Evita Mendoza-Balane, officer-in-charge (OIC) board secretary of RTWPB 7, said they received a total of nine applications on the last day of filing on August 12.

But one of the companies withdrew its application after knowing that the P31 wage increase is only applicable to minimum wage earners and not to all employees, especially those who are already receiving above minimum wage.

Mendoza-Balane said they still have to review the applications before coming up with a decision, possibly around 45 days after the August 12 deadline.

But the RTWPB 7 OIC explained that those companies whose requests would be granted would only be allowed to enjoy the wage hike exemption for one year.

After that, they will already be required to follow the daily minimum wage rate set by the government starting June 15, 2023. (PAC, TPT)