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MANILA, Philippines — Private workers and house helpers in Caraga region will be receiving a higher minimum pay next year after the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) affirmed motu proprio the new wage orders issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-XIII on Monday.
Wage Order No. RXIII-19 grants a P50 daily pay increase for private sector workers in the region to be given in two tranches: P30 effective on Jan. 2, 2025, and then P20 on May 1.
This will raise the daily minimum wage from P385 to P415 across all sectors starting Jan. 2, and then from P415 to P435 upon the implementation of the second tranche on May 1.
On the other hand, Wage Order No. RXIII-DW-05 provides a P1,000 increase for domestic workers in the region, raising their monthly minimum pay from P5,000 to P6,000, also effective on Jan. 2 next year.
Beneficiaries
According to the Department of Labor and Employment, the increase is expected to directly benefit 65,681 minimum wage earners in the Caraga region. About 132,217 full-time wage and salary workers earning more than the minimum daily wage may also indirectly benefit as a result of upward adjustments at the enterprise level due to the correction of salary distortions.
As for the wage adjustment for domestic workers or kasambahay, it will directly benefit 32,866, of which approximately 24 percent (7,939) are stay-in workers.
Caraga region is composed of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Island; and six cities.
As of Monday, 13 wage orders have been issued benefiting the private sector. These are in the National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen and Caraga.
Seven wage orders have also been issued raising the wages of domestic workers in NCR, CAR, Mimaropa, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga.
The wage boards in Northern Mindanao, Davao and Bicol regions have yet to issue their respective wage orders.