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MANILA, Philippines — Amid the continued increase in the prices of goods and services, close to 300,000 minimum wage earners in private establishments in the regions of Ilocos and Western Visayas are expected to directly benefit from the wage increase effective next month.
The salary adjustments were approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) and affirmed by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
RTWPB Ilocos provided a P30-P35 increase in the daily minimum wage, raising the minimum wage rate to P435 for nonagricultural establishments with 10 or more workers, and P402 for nonagricultural establishments with less than 10 workers and agricultural workers.
RTWPB Western Visayas granted a P30 minimum wage increase across all sectors, increasing the daily minimum wage rates to P480 for non-agriculture establishments with more than 10 workers, P450 for non-agriculture establishments with 10 workers or less, and P440 for workers in agriculture.
According to the NWPC, a total of 287,683 private sector minimum wage earners in the two regions would be entitled to the new wage rate, while some 677,626 other salaried workers may indirectly benefit from “wage distortion” adjustments.
The regional wage boards have likewise approved a monthly increase of P500 for domestic workers, bringing the monthly wage rate to P5,500 in the Ilocos Region and P5,000 in Western Visayas.
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A total of 259,820 domestic workers are expected to benefit from the wage increase.
The pay hikes will take effect on Nov. 6 and Nov. 16 in Regions 1 and 6, respectively.
“The increases, which considered the various wage determination criteria provided under Republic Act No. 6727, or the Wage Rationalization Act, either resulted from the motu proprio act of the Board or petitions filed by labor groups seeking an increase in the daily minimum wage due to escalating prices of basic goods and commodities,” the NWPC said.
“Each board, comprised of representatives from the government, management, and labor sectors, conducted public hearings and wage deliberations,” it added.