82% of companies in Region 12 complies with new wage order

By Danilo E. Doguiles

Tuesday 31st of July 2012

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, July 31 (PIA) -- Compliance to Wage Order No. RBXII - 17 of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWB) – 12 has reached 82 percent, a labor official here confirmed.

RTWPB-12 board secretary Jessie dela Cruz said, “ 82 percent of the companies and establishments in Region that have been covered in the routine inspections by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 12 inspectorate have been found to have complied with new wage order.”

Wage Order No. 17 became effective on April 18, this year. It ordered the integration of the P15 per day cost of living allowance (COLA) set in Wage Order No. RBXII – 16 into the basic minimum wage and mandated new P6 to P10 per day COLA upon effectivity.

As of April 18, minimum daily wages in Soccsksargen Region are as follows: P270 for workers in non-agriculture sector, P248 for those in agriculture plantation sector; P243 in agriculture non-plantation; P246 for workers in retail/service establishments employing more than 10 persons; and P240 for workers in retail/service establishments employing not more than 10 persons.

Dela Cruz attributed the compliance of the companies in Soccsksargen Region to the new wage order to the consultations held with stakeholders prior to the approval of the order and the massive information drive immediately after it was approved.

Information campaign included wage clinics in various areas of the region and installation of billboards on the details of the wage order in public places, among others.

On December 1, 2012, a second tranche of P4 to P6 daily COLA shall added to the minimum wages of workers in the agriculture and retail/service sectors.

By then, basic wages in the region shall be P270 non-agriculture sector, P252 in agriculture plantation sector; P249 in agriculture non-plantation; P250 in retail/service establishments employing more than 10 persons; and P246 in retail/service establishments employing not more than 10 persons.

Soccsksargen Region or Region 12 includes the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan, and Cotabato.

Dela Cruz, also called on workers in the private sector to report DOLE companies and establishments that would refuse to give their workers the basic minimum pay.

He, however, encouraged management and laborers to resolve among themselves disputes – including those that involve issues on salaries and wages – before these are submitted for resolution to the labor department. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)