THE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) of the National Capital Region (NCR) and of Western Visayas announced the granting of an increase in the pay of minimum wage earners in the two regions.
The wage adjustment was approved under Wage Order No. NCR-23 issued by the RTWPB- NCR on May 13, 2022 for a P33-increase in pay. This brings the new minimum wage rate to P570 and P533 for workers in the non-agriculture and agriculture sectors, respectively.
This will benefit around one million minimum wage earners in private establishments in the region. Among the factors considered in granting the increase was the impact on the purchasing power of minimum wage earners due to constant increases in prices of basic goods, commodities, and petroleum products.
The last wage hike in the region was on November 2018.
As for the Western Visayas, the RTWPB – VI issued Wage Order No. RBVI-26 for a wage increase of P55 and P110 for workers in the non-agriculture, industrial and commercial establishments.
This brings the daily minimum wage in the region to P450 and P420 for those employing more than 10 workers and those employing 10 or less workers, respectively. In addition, the Board granted a P95 increase for workers in the agriculture sector bringing the daily minimum wage to P410.
It is expected to benefit at least 214,836 minimum wage earners in private establishments in the region.
Additionally, the Board issued Wage Order No. RBVI-DW-04 providing a wage increase of P500 bringing the new monthly minimum wage rate for domestic workers to P4,500. It is expected to benefit 160,795 domestic workers (49,413 live-in and 111,382 live-out).
The last wage hike for workers in private establishments and for domestic workers in Western Visayas was in November 2019 and May 2019, respectively.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III thanked the two wage boards for heeding his call to fast-track the review of the current minimum wage levels in their respective regions.
“Good job done by the NCR and Region VI wage boards for taking the extra mile in resolving with dispatch the petitions for wage adjustments in their jurisdictions,” Bello said.
The DOLE chief likewise said he expects the other regional wage boards to follow suit.