Philippine Statistics Authority Regional Statistical Services Office VII (PSA RSSO VII) conducted an Establishment Forum on the 2018 Occupational Wages Survey (OWS) and 2017/2018 Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment (ISLE) at One Central Hotel, Sanciangko St., Cebu City last 14 September 2018.

Establishment owners, managers, accountants, human resource managers, bookkeepers, safety officers, supervisors and the like were the participants. Students, faculty and school representatives were also invited. Engr. Felixberto M. Sato, Jr., Senior Statistical Specialist, welcomed the participants in behalf of PSA RSSO VII Regional Director Ariel E. Florendo.

Ms. Christine S. Ariola, Supervising Statistical Specialist of Labor Standards and Relations Division and Ms. Alegria A. Mota, Chief of Employment Demand Statistics Division graced the occasion as resource persons. Ms. Ariola presented the highlights of the 2016 OWS results while Ms. Mota conveyed the survey highlights of 2015/2016 ISLE results.

Ms. Leslie Marie V. Zuasula discussed the survey overview and items of inquiries for the 2018 OWS while the survey overview and items of inquiries for the 2017/2018 ISLE was explained by Engr. Leopoldo P. Alfanta, Jr., Chief of the Statistical Operations and Coordination Division of PSA RSSO VII.

An open forum followed after the presentations. Ms. Christine S. Ariola, Ms. Alegria A. Mota, and Engr. Leopoldo P. Alfanta, Jr. answered questions from the participants during the forum.

The Occupational Wages Survey (OWS) is a nationwide establishment-based survey that aims to monitor the wage rates of 22 low paid occupations in 21 non-agricultural industries. The main objective of OWS is to generate statistics for wage and salary administration and wage determination in collective bargaining negotiations.  These statistics can also be used as basis for investment decisions and determining global competitiveness of our industries and occupations. Specifically, statistics on wage rates are useful economic indicators and are inputs to wage, income, productivity and price policies, wage fixing and collective bargaining. Occupational wage rates can also be used to measure wage differentials, wage inequality in typical low wage and high wage occupations and for international comparability.  Industry data on basic pay and allowance can be used to measure wage differentials across industries, for investment decisions and as reference in periodic adjustments of minimum wages.

On the other hand, the Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment (ISLE), formerly BLES Integrated Survey (BITS), is a nationwide survey of establishments employing at least 20 workers. The main objective of ISLE is to generate an integrated data set on unionism and collective bargaining, employment of specific groups of workers, occupational shortages and surpluses, training of workers, productivity improvement programs and gainsharing practices, employees’ compensation program, occupational safety and health practices and occupational injuries and diseases. These data are inputs to studies on industry trends and practices and serve as bases for the formulation of policies on employment, conditions of work and industrial relations.  To some extent, the survey results will also be used to assess the progress of decent work in the country. The simultaneous conduct of the Occupational Wages Survey (OWS) and the Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment (ISLE) is being implemented for cost efficiency and to lessen respondents’ burden.

The objective of the forum was to gain support from the establishments which will eventually be the respondents of the survey and to let stakeholders appreciate the results of the OWS and ISLE. The forum ended by the closing remarks delivered by the Chief Statistical Specialist of PSA Cebu Province, Mr. Firmo C. Diputado. In his closing remarks, he thanked and asked the full cooperation of the establishments to give truthful and correct data to the items of inquiries of the survey.