In an effort to decongest Metro Manila and promote equal opportunities for the provinces, President Rodrigo Duterte wants to implement the sane wages being enjoyed by workers in the country’s capital.
This is according to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III who recently confirmed that the administration is seriously considering the implementation of a “national minimum wage law.”
In an interview with AM radio station DZMM, Secretary Bello said:
“President Rodrigo Duterte wants Metro Manila and provincial workers to have the same wage.”
As we all know, numerous individuals from the provinces prefer working in the capital, sometimes leaving their families behind, to pursue greener pastures and receive bigger salaries.
“Many people flock to Manila because of the salary rate, in turn, Metro Manila suffers from overpopulation,” Bello pointed out.
Reports tell us that out one-tenth of the 100 million people population of the Philippines are” crammed in Metro Manila, where wages are higher compared to the provinces,” said ABS-CBN news.
During the presidential campaign period, Duterte repeatedly expressed his intentions to spread wealth and development across to the provinces. He promised the public that implementing a nationwide wage rate and ending contractualization will be among the priorities of his administration.
Once approved, the national minimum wage law will render the regional wage boards “irrelevant,” the labor chief said.
The government hopes the consolidated wage hike bills will be passed by October of this year.
Bello also said that as of the moment, they are working to “totally repeal” a department order that permitted the practice of contractualization or “endo.”
“By the end of 2016, we will reduce the incidents of endo and contractualization by 50%. By the end of 2017, there will be no more endo and contractualization,” shared Bello.
This is definitely a good news and we hope to hear more about this in the near future.