hBoth the Departments of Labor and Employment and Finance are ensuring the provision of non-wage benefits for minimum wage earners, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said yesterday.

These benefits include possible exemption from income tax, access to low-priced commodities, and free transportation to and from workplaces of employees.

Sto. Tomas said in a press release she is set to meet with Finance Secretary Margarito Teves soon to finalize the coordination between their agencies.

She said that these benefits are necessary even if the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards have already granted adjustments in the minimum wage last July.

In lieu of a wage hike, the government considers the possible exemption of minimum wage earners from income tax, the press release said. Negotiations spearheaded by the DOLE with other government agencies are also ongoing, she said.

Sto. Tomas said that the DOLE and the DOF are also pushing for access to possible concession loans from Government Financing Institutions, particularly the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines, to companies to enable them to purchase buses for the free transportation of their workforce, the press release said.

Access to basic goods, including rice, sugar, oil, veggies, and meats, shall also be strengthened through the increased strategic placement of the rolling stores of the National Food Authority in various areas.

The expansion of the NFA rolling stores will be complemented by the Botika ng Bayan to provide workers with low-cost, quality medicines as necessary, the press release added.*

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