DOLE eyes ‘balanced solution’ to proposed P150-daily wage hike

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has underscored the need for a “balanced solution” on the proposed P150-acrossthe-board minimum wage hike for private sector workers.

Meanwhile, Camarines Sur Rep.

Luis Raymund Villafuerte appealed to the Senate to prioritize the passage of a measure that provides protection and relief to over 1.5 million Filipino freelance workers.

In an interview with ANC Friday, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma gave assurance that the DOLE was not sitting on the wage hike petitions which were being reviewed by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards.

“I would not want to preempt also what the Senate committee would be coming up... The important thing is that they recognized the need for a serious consideration. The fact that they created [and] approved a tech - nical working group is an indication that they also recognized that there is a need for them to look at a balanced solution,” Laguesma said.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has filed a bill seeking to increase the daily wage rate of private employees by P150, or an adjustment of about P3,000 a month.