DOLE chief: Minimum wages in Mimaropa hiked by P5 to P30

The Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board in Mimaropa or Region 4-B had increased the minimum wage rates in the region by P5 to P30, deliverable in four tranches effective on May 1, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz announced on Wednesday.

“The RTWPB in the Mimaropa region … has approved Wage Order No. IV-B-7, which raises the minimum wages in the region to a level higher than the poverty income threshold,” said Baldoz in a statement. Mimaropa stands for Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.

The first tranche of the increase under the order is the integration into the basic pay of the existing P5 cost of living allowance (Cola), which is provided under the previous Wage Order No. IV-B-06. This took effect on May 1.

The second tranche of the wage adjustment will be on Nov. 1; the third tranche will take effect May 1, 2016, and the fourth tranche will be on Nov. 1, 2016.

Wage Order No. IV-B-7 eliminates the minimum wage rates in the region, which are below the poverty threshold. Before the issuance of the newest wage order, three wage rates in the Mimaropa area were still below the region’s poverty threshold of P212 per day.

These are the wage rate of P210 per day for Calapan City and Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, and El Nido and Coron in Palawan; P207 per day for the first class municipalities of Mimaropa, and P205 per day for the rest of the region.

Upon the wage order’s effectivity on May 1, the minimum wage rate in Puerto Princesa City, classified as a highly urbanized city, shall range from P220 to P280 per day.

In Calapan City and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro and El Nido and Coron in Palawan, this shall range from P215 to P275 per day.

Minimum wage earners in first class municipalities in the region shall enjoy minimum wage rates between P212 and P265 per day, while minimum wage earners in the rest of the region shall have a minimum wage rate of P210 to P260 per day.

On Nov. 1, when the second tranche of the wage adjustment takes effect, the minimum wage rate in Puerto Princesa City shall range from P225 to P285 per day.

In Calapan City and Puerto Galera and in El Nido and Coron, the daily wage rate shall range from P220 to P280 per day. Minimum wage earners in first class municipalities in the region shall receive wage rates of P217 to P270 per day, while the rest of the region shall have a minimum wage rate of P217 to P265 per day.

For the third tranche on May 1, 2016, minimum wage earners in Puerto Princesa City shall enjoy minimum wage pay of P230 to P285 per day; Calapan City and Puerto Galera and in El Nido and Coron shall enjoy minimum wage rates ranging from P225 to P285 per day; those in first class municipalities and those in the rest of the region shall enjoy minimum wage rates of P225 to P275 per day.

Finally, when the fourth tranche takes effect on Nov. 1, 2016, the minimum wage rate in the region shall be a uniform range between P235 and P285 per day.

For private sector minimum wage earners in the mining sector, regardless of location, their rates will rise from P280 per day effective May 1 to P285 per day on Nov. 1.

The wage increase prescribed in Wage Order No. IV-B-07 applies to all private sector minimum wage workers in the region, regardless of their position, designation or status of employment, and regardless of the method by which their wages are paid.

However, the order does not cover household or domestic helpers, persons in the personal service of another, including family drivers and workers of duly registered Barangay Micro-Business Enterprises with Certificate of Authority, pursuant to R.A. 9178.

Also under the new wage order, the prescribed minimum wage rates for workers of construction, security, janitorial, and similar services shall be borne by the principals or clients and contracts shall be deemed amended accordingly.

The wage order also does not allow exemption, and encourages private businesses to adopt productivity improvement schemes to sustain rising levels of wages and to enhance competitiveness.

The wage order arose from a petition of the Association of Minimum Wage Earners and Advocates for a wage hike of P185 per day which it filed on Jan. 21.