Higher pay awaits private workers in 3 regions

Workers in private establishments in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos) regions will receive higher pay later this month after the regional wage boards raised the daily minimum wage rates in these areas.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said the wage orders were submitted to the National Wages and Productivity Commission for review and were affirmed on Sept. 25. The wage orders were published on Monday and will take effect on Oct. 17.

In Cagayan Valley, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) granted a P30 daily minimum wage increase across all sectors, bringing the daily minimum wages from P450 to P480 in the nonagriculture sector, and from P430 to P460 in the agriculture sector.

The RTWPB also approved a P500 monthly increase for household service workers in all cities and municipalities in the region, bringing the sector’s monthly minimum wage to P6,000.

In Central Luzon, the RTWPB simplified its wage structure to the main sector/industry classifications of nonagriculture, agriculture and retail and service.

The increase in the amount of P50 to P66 brings the daily minimum wage rates in the region to a range of P500 to P550 in the nonagriculture sector; P485 to P520 in the agriculture sector; and P435 to P540 in retail and service establishments after the second tranche is implemented on April 16, 2025.

In Soccsksargen, the increase granted by regional wage board in the amount of P27 to P48 brings the daily minimum wages in the region to P430 in the nonagriculture sector including retail and service establishments and P410 in the agriculture sector after the second (Jan. 1) and third (April 1) tranches next year.

Insufficient

The Dole said the wage orders issued motu proprio (on their own) by the boards and followed President Marcos’ Labor Day directive for the timely review of minimum wages. The last wage orders for workers in private establishments and domestic workers in the three regions took effect on Oct. 16 last year.

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Labor groups, however, were not satisfied with the wage hikes.

The Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) said the new increases “continue the cheap labor policy” and were still far from the workers’ demand for a P150-wage increase to restore their lost purchasing power.

“The new minimum wages are not sufficient for formal workers and their families. The reason for work is to earn enough for a decent life but instead, the system of wage rationalization creates a horde of ‘working poor,’” PM secretary general Judy Ann Miranda said in a statement.

The Federation of Free Workers and the National Wage Coalition described the new wage hikes as “a little step forward but offer only temporary and minimal relief for workers struggling to meet their daily needs.”