Manila: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will visit various establishments in Metro Manila to check their compliance with the PHP50 wage increase for minimum wage earners, which takes effect on July 18.

According to Philippines News Agency, Labor Secretary Benne Laguesma has instructed regional and field offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) to conduct labor inspections to ensure establishments comply with the new minimum wage and other labor standards. Maria Criselda Sy, executive director of the National Wages and Productivity Commission, mentioned this during an interview at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.

Sy noted that companies employing 10 workers or fewer, as well as establishments severely affected by typhoons or man-made disasters, are exempt from the wage increase. She emphasized the availability of an existing mechanism to apply for such exemptions and urged the public to visit their website for details on the application process.

Earlier this week, the NCR wage board approved a PHP50 daily minimum wage increase in Metro Manila, which will benefit about 1.2 million workers. The new minimum wage in Metro Manila now stands at PHP695, up from PHP645.