Employment presents bright spot in Western Visayas
Roxas City -- There is an increase in the employment rate in Western Visayas.
The first quarter report of the National Statistics Office in Capiz shows that a 2.6 percent employment growth was seen in Region VI, Western Visayas.
Provincial Statistician Frankie Dordas of NSO-Capiz disclosed that in January this year, there was a 93.6 percent employment rate, a bit higher than the employment rate recorded in January 2005 at 91 percent.
Dordas said that 43.2 percent of persons in the labor force in the region are engaged in the agricultural sector, 11.2 percent in the industry, and 45.6 percent are in the services sector. The Department of Labor and Employment earlier reported a 3.2 percent growth in employment for the first quarter in the Calabarzon area or Region 4-A, which is home to a number of industrial sites.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards of Central and Western Visayas have approved increases in daily minimum wage ranging from P10 to P18, and from P17 to P20, respectively, starting August 1, while workers in the Pangasinan and Ilocos provinces would also receive an increase in their basic wages ranging from P15 to P25, Malacañang announced. The approval of wage adjustments is the government's response to fight poverty which is realized through PGMA's fiscal discipline and sound economic management.
Malacañang said that while the fast-tracking of wage adjustments in the remaining regions is given priority, the government puts forward the plan to increase the salary of government workers.
(PIA)