Ilocos minimum wage earners to get P30 hike

HIGHER PAY Workers in Ilocos region, including those employed in farms and plantations, will have more to spend for their families’ needs after an increase in their daily minimum wage.

MANILA, Philippines — Workers in Ilocos region are getting a pre-Labor Day gift as new minimum wage rates that are to take effect today have been raised by P30, according to the National Wages and Productivity Commission.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in the Ilocos said the new wage rates were issued after a review and consultations on the prevailing salaries in the region.

In another order, the board increased by P1,000 the minimum wage for domestic workers, raising their salaries to P4,500 for those in chartered cities and first-class municipalities, and P3,500 for those in other towns.

Ilocos region covers the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan, and the cities of Laoag, Batac, Vigan, Candon, San Fernando, Urdaneta, Dagupan, San Carlos and Alaminos.

Increase

In a statement, Nathaniel Lacambra, Department of Labor and Employment regional director, said the grant of the P30 increase would raise the workers’ daily minimum wage to P340.

Based on the order, workers receiving P310 daily in establishments employing 30 or more workers will get an increase of P30 a day while those receiving P285 daily in establishments employing 10 to 29 workers will get additional P25 a day.

The board also granted additional P17 a day for workers receiving P265 in establishments employing less than 10 workers, and P17 a day for those receiving P256 in establishments employing less than 10 workers.

Aside from the P17 increase, these workers will also get an additional P9 per day six months after the new salary hike takes effect on April 30.

Balance

As for farmworkers earning minimum wages, they will get a P30 increase for agriculture plantation enterprises and P26 for nonplantation enterprises.

“After a review of socioeconomic conditions during public hearings and board meetings, the amounts of increase were determined to balance the needs of workers and businesses,” Lacambra said.

Before the new increase, the minimum wage is fixed at P310 for large companies and commercial fishing, P285 for medium enterprises, P265 for small establishments and agricultural plantation enterprises, and P256 for micro establishments and agricultural nonplantation enterprises.