DoLE seeks proactive wage policies

Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary Francis N. Tolentino called on national and regional wage boards to adopt flexible, evidence-based wage policies to keep pace with changing economic conditions and the financial needs of workers.

Speaking at the Mid-Year Planning and Assessment of the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards, Tolentino urged officials to conduct regular assessments rather than waiting for formal worker petitions or severe economic distress before evaluating minimum wage rates.

“What we owe the Filipino worker is not just a single generous gesture at the year’s end followed by silence until the next crisis forces our hand,” Tolentino said.

The Labor chief proposed introducing mandatory midyear wage and price assessments across all regions.

The evaluations would track consumer price movements during the first half of the year, focusing specifically on how inflation impacts lower-income households.

Tolentino also urged wage boards to formalize criteria that would grant regional bodies authority to initiate wage reviews automatically during extraordinary economic circumstances, bypassing standard review schedules.

Addressing an ongoing court injunction that halted a minimum wage increase in Metro Manila, Tolentino said the government must respect judicial rulings while pursuing lawful administrative remedies.

He stressed that labor officials must explore all legal avenues within the Labor Code of the Philippines to remain responsive to emerging economic conditions.

Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon presented an outlook on economic conditions for the remainder of 2026 during the event.

NWPC executive director Maria Criselda R. Sy reaffirmed that upcoming consultations, hearings and productivity initiatives will prioritize human dignity while balancing the interests of both workers and employers.