PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM DAILY WAGE RATES AND FOR ADDITIONAL MANDATORY LIVING ALLOWANCES

WHEREAS, the nation now faces a continuing crisis as a
result of wide-ranging developments in the world’s economic and political
systems;

WHEREAS, a need exists to sustain the momentum of national
growth established in the past years and ensure a development path that is both
enduring and compassionate;

WHEREAS, the National Tripartite Conference on Wages,
Employment and Industrial Relations was convened on 15-16 August, 1980 to
address itself to meeting this need;

WHEREAS, the delegates to the Conference proposed, in
response to the challenge, to make certain adjustments in the wages of workers
to ensure a decent living wage for them and the continued viability of business
and industry;

NOW, THEHEFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, and upon
the recommendation of the Minister of Labor and Employment and the Cabinet
Standing Committee, do hereby order and decree:

SECTION 1. The minimum daily wage rates shall be increased
by P 1.00. All private employers shall pay their employees whose wage or salary
is not more than P 1,500.00 a month an additional mandatory living allowance of
P60.00 a month for non-agricultural workers, P45.00 a month for plantation
workers and P30.00 a month for agricultural non-plantation workers.

SEC. 2. Existing or new enterprises that are or may become
temporarily distressed or dislocated may be granted full exemption or deferment
of compliance by the National Wages Council.

The Council shall act on petitions with complete supporting documents within
one month from submission thereof.

SEC. 3. Any increase in wages or allowances granted by
employers unilaterally or by collective agreement between first of July 1980 and
the date of the effectivity of this Decree may be credited to the amount of
allowances provided herein.

SEC. 4. The National Wages Council shall review all existing
decrees granting mandatory living allowances and the basic minimum wages with a
view to consolidating or restructuring all such allowances for ease of
administration and enforcement as well as to reaffirm the basic income of the
lowest categories of workers.

SEC. 5. The Minister of Labor and Employment shall initially
promulgate rules to implement this decree.

SEC. 6. Nothing herein shall be construed to minimize of
eliminate any benefit to which a worker is now entitled under existing law,
contract or practice.

SEC. 7. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 18th day of August, in the Year of Our Lord,
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty.

			(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS President of the Philippines
	By the President:
	(Sgd.) JOAQUIN T. VENUS, JR.
		Presidential Assistant