(PNA file photo by Yancy Lim)
MANILA – A total of 150, 484 minimum wage earners in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Bicol and Eastern Visayas would be the latest to benefit from a pay hike, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported on Tuesday.
In a statement, the DOLE said the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) affirmed the wage orders submitted by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) in these regions which provide for a PHP30 wage increase.
The wage orders will be published on Nov. 19 and will take effect after 15 days or on Dec. 5.
It said that aside from the minimum wage hike, the wage boards also adjusted salary of kasambahays ranges from PHP400 to PHP1,000. Around 162,970 domestic workers – about 21 percent (34,111) are on live-in arrangements, will benefit from the pay increase.
On Nov. 6, the RTWPB in CAR issued motu proprio (on its own) Wage Order No. CAR-22 which increased the new daily minimum wage rate in the region to PHP430.
The CAR wage board said this shall apply to all minimum wage earners in the private sector within the region, regardless of their position, designation or status, and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid.
The Bicol wage board, in response to a petition, issued Wage Order No. RBV-21 on Oct. 23, bringing the new daily minimum wage in the region to PHP395.
On the other hand, RTWPB Eastern Visayas motu proprio issued Wage Order No. RB VIII-23 on Nov. 6.
This brings the new minimum wage rate in the region to PHP405 for the non-agriculture sector and retail or service establishments employing 11 workers and above.
Meanwhile, workers in the cottage and handicraft industry, agriculture sector, and retail or service establishments employing 10 workers and below, will be receiving PHP375.
As for household workers, the CAR wage board has also motu proprio issued Wage Order No. RB-CAR-DW-05, increasing their monthly minimum wage by PHP400, bringing their monthly salary to PHP4,900.
Meanwhile, the Bicol wage board's Wage Order No. RBV-DW-03 granted a PHP1,000 increase in the monthly salary of household workers which is now at PHP5,000.
The Eastern Visayas wage board issued Wage Order No. RB VIII-DW-04 granting a monthly increase of PHP500 to the minimum pay of kasambahays, bringing their monthly pay to PHP5,500 in chartered cities and first-class municipalities, and PHP5,000 in other municipalities in the region.
The last wage orders for workers in private establishments and domestic workers in the three regions became effective in June 2022.
To date, 12 regional wage boards have issued minimum wage hike orders. (PNA)
