LAST week, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board approved a P40 per day increase in the minimum wage for workers in the National Capital Region (NCR), a decision that made all concerned unhappy, as such decisions almost always do. While we understand the concerns of both the labor and the business sectors, we believe that criticisms of the minimum wage decision are a bit shortsighted, and miss what should be the real priority.

To recap, the wage board approved an increase in the daily minimum wage for non-agricultural workers from P570 to P610, and for agricultural workers and workers in small service and manufacturing firms from P533 to P573 per day. The new minimum wage rates will take effect on July 16.