Northern Mindanao workers get pay hike

MANILA, Philippines, January 4 ------ Minimum wage earners and household workers or kasambahay in Northern Mindanao will receive an increase in their daily or monthly salary effective Jan. 16, the Department of Labor and Employment announced.

The DOLE said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) granted an increase of P39 in the daily pay of workers both in the non-agriculture and agriculture sectors. The wage adjustment will be given in two tranches. “The increase will bring the minimum wage rates in the region to P485 or P500 upon full implementation,” the labor department said.

Meanwhile, household workers will receive an increase of P500, bringing their monthly minimum pay to P6,500. Of the 16 RTWPBs nationwide, 14 have issued new wage orders, increasing the minimum daily pay of workers in the private sector. Two regional wage boards, Davao and Bicol, are expected to resume the process of determining the minimum wage hike this month and in February, respectively.

The DOLE said over 4.5 million minimum wage earners in the private sector and 755,000 household workers benefitted from wage orders issued by the RTWPBs. Eight million other workers earning above the minimum rate are also expected to benefit from the pay adjustment due to wage distortion. However, establishments in areas affected by calamities may seek exemption from giving the mandated salary increase, the DOLE said.

Source: philstar.com