Retail and service businesses with fewer employees, including micro enterprises, may apply for an exemption from the ₱60 minimum wage increase in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.
In an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino said businesses with 10 or fewer employees only need to register online with the department to confirm their exemption status.
“‘Yung mga micro po hindi po sila kasama, less than 10 hindi kasama. ‘Yung pataas, ‘yun po ang papasok sa Sagip Trabaho,” Tolentino said.
“Ireregister lang po nila. Online lang po ito para kapag nagkaroon po ng visitation nasa talaan naman ng DOLE Region NCR na talaga sila ay exempted,“ he added.
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) seeking exemptions or assistance will be required to submit documents, including Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) certificates, employee information, and financial records, according to DOLE.
Tolentino said small and medium enterprises with around 15 to 20 employees will also have a 75-day period from the implementation of the wage order to apply for an exemption.
He said DOLE is set to launch the “Sagip Trabaho“ program to assist businesses, particularly small eateries and coffee shops, that may struggle to absorb the additional labor cost.
“Mayroon pong 75 days para kumuha po ng exemption yung ating mga small and medium. Yung may mga empleyado na 15, 20,” Tolentino said.
Under the program, qualified businesses that cannot immediately afford the ₱60 increase may receive assistance through the government’s TUPAD program.
Tolentino said DOLE will shoulder the ₱60 wage increase for qualified workers for up to 90 days, giving affected businesses time to adjust to the higher labor cost.
During the 90-day assistance period, employers will only be required to continue paying mandatory contributions such as those for the Social Security System (SSS) and PhilHealth.
“Yung hindi talaga kaya na mayroon pong procedure, yung hindi kaya ng mga karinderya na maliliit na magbigay ng wage increase ay ipapasok po natin sa TUPAD Program, ito po yung Sagip Trabaho,” Tolentino said.
He added that the assistance is intended to ensure that workers continue receiving their wages while allowing small businesses to adjust to the new wage rate.
