The NWPC recently approved the issuance on the: 1) Legal Coverage of Family Drivers, 2) Amendment to the Category of Calamity such as Natural and Human-Induced Disasters, and 3) Conduct of Tele or Videoconference during Commission Meetings.

On May 14, Resolution No. 03, Series of 2020 on the Legal Coverage of Family Drivers (Amending NWPC Resolution No. 1, Series of 2017) was approved. The resolution clarified that the wages of family drivers shall be governed by their contractual arrangements with the households they are rendering services for, pursuant to the Civil Code of the Philippines.

The Commission also approved on 14 May 2020 Resolution No. 02, series of 2020, Amending Certain Provisions of Resolution No. 01, Series of 2007 and Resolution No. 01, Series of 2014 on the Category of Calamity such as Natural and Human-Induced Disasters.   Among others, the resolution provides that when a calamity occurs during the life of the Wage Order, companies may apply for exemption only with respect to tranches yet to be implemented consistent with the policy of non-diminution under the Labor Code. The amendment also simplified the documents required for the application.

To facilitate the actions of the Commission on important matters that require immediate attention and decision, the Commission approved the guidelines on the Conduct of Tele or Videoconference during Commission Meetings.

The guidelines shall be applied where physical or face-to-face meetings are not feasible, as in quarantine/lockdown situations. This shall also help the Commission to immediately discuss concerns such as, but not limited, to the review and affirmation of wage orders, appeals on wage orders, applications for exemption cases and other urgent issues involving minimum wage fixing and determination as well as productivity improvement.

June 2020