THE P22 Cost of Living Allowance increase is useless if many companies continue to violate the wage law, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said.

The solon said one in five workers may not  enjoy the raise if the current 20 percent non-compliance rate remains.

Reports reaching Angara’s office said almost 19 percent of the 35,391 companies visited by Labor inspectors last year were found to be shortchanging workers.

“This shows that issuing wage orders is just half of the work. The other half is to see to it that the orders are followed. The proof is not in the issuance (of the order) but in its compliance. Wage orders must find their way not into newspapers but inside pay envelopes,” Angara said.

Last year, 1,533 out of the 6,618 firms found violating wage orders made “on-the-spot rectification of their mistake.”

Angara said companies in distress or those that can’t afford a wage hike should apply for exemption.

He urged government to field more labor inspectors to improve wage compliance.