Minimum wage could be raised again in the Philippines

The Philippines’ labour department has ordered its regional wage boards to review if another round of wage hikes could be imposed next year for the country’s four million minimum wage earners to manage the impact of rising prices.

Labour Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, said, “This [wage hike] is something we are studying. We are not disregarding recent events. That’s why our Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) have the directive that even though we just recently issued wage adjustments, we will still consider the current situation so we can help our workers and entrepreneurs,” Inquirer reported.

Wage adjustments are typically made once a year, but the RTWPBs are assessing additional factors like recent typhoons, the ongoing pandemic, and high inflation that could merit another wage hike for workers. 

Inflation in the Philippines has risen to its fastest pace in nearly 14 years, hitting 7.7% in October, the highest since Dec 2008. It is projected to rise further due to supply constraints for farm produce after the country suffered from a series of typhoon disasters. 

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The last minimum wage adjustments were implemented in June this year. The minimum wage in the National Capital Region was raised by P33 to P570 (US$9.81) a day. The increases in regional minimum wages ranged from P30 to P110 (US$1.89).