Wages up in Central Mindanao

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines—Starting Oct. 9, the daily minimum wage for private sector workers in Central Mindanao will increase by P20, labor officials said on Tuesday.

The increase is provided for in an order that the Regional Wages and Productivity Board had issued, according to Jessie Dela Cruz, board secretary.

Albert Gutib, director of the Department of Labor and Employment in Central Mindanao, said the wage order would be in effect in the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong and Koronadal.

Gutib said workers in the nonagricultural sector will receive a daily wage of P295 while employees in the agricultural, retail and services sector will receive a daily wage of P277 effective Oct. 9.

Gutib said under the new wage order, the Cost of Living Allowance of P5 under the previous wage order had become part of the new wage rate.