THE regional wage boards were already informed to fast-track the processing of petitions calling for an increase in minimum wage.
According to Executive Director Maria Criselda Sy of the National Wages and Productivity Commission, the regional wage boards were already convened to clarify the target set by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III that before the end of April, they should have already submitted their recommendations regarding the wage hike petitions.
There was also an earlier target set by Congress for the regional wage boards to finish the process within 30 days.
But according to Sy, there would be no shortcut to the process because of its mandate under the law, but this still depends on the members of the wage boards if they would be able to finish quickly in assessing the petitions.
If the regular process is to be the basis, the earliest to come up with a decision is 45 days since 15 days is allotted for the obligatory advise for a public hearing and the remaining days are for the review of the petitions by wage board members.
Sy already said that by now, there are already 10 wake hike petitions filed with the wage boards in six regions in the country, including the National Capital Region, Regions 3, 4-A, 6, 7 and 8.
No wage boards have already announced the holding of a public hearing but mostly meetings and consultations.
For those regions where there are still no wage hike petitions, Sy said the wage boards that cover these regions can allow the holding of motu proprio hearings for minimum wage hikes.