Wage board approves pay hike in Western Visayas

Workers in the private sector and kasambahays or domestic workers in Western Visayas will receive higher wages next month, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).

Dole announced Tuesday that the Western Visayas Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-6) issued Wage Order No. RBVI-28, granting a P33 to P40 daily wage increase for private sector workers in the region.

This brings the daily minimum wage rates in the region to a range of P485 to P513 (from P450 – P480) in the non-agriculture sector, and P480 (from P440) in the agriculture sector.

RTWPB-6 also approved a P1,000 monthly increase for the salary of kasambahays in the region, bringing the monthly minimum wage from P5,000 to P6,000.

The wage orders were submitted to the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) for review and were affirmed on Oct. 28, to take effect on Nov. 17.

The last wage orders for workers in private establishments and domestic workers in the region were enforced on Nov. 16, 2023.

Direct beneficiaries

According to Dole, the wage order is expected to directly benefit 193,032 minimum wage earners in Western Visayas.

About 300,252 full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage may also indirectly benefit as a result of upward adjustments at the enterprise level arising from the correction of wage distortion.

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Meanwhile, the wage increase for kasambahays is also expected to benefit a total of 160,795 domestic workers, 31 percent of whom are on live-in arrangements.

As in any wage order, and as provided for in the NWPC Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Determination, retail and service establishments regularly employing not more than 10 workers, and enterprises affected by natural calamities and/or human-induced disasters may apply to the RTWPB for exemption from the wage increase. Barangay micro business enterprises (BMBEs) are not covered by the minimum wage law under Republic Act No. 9178.

For exemption applications and further clarifications on the wage order, the RTWPB may also be reached through its email address rb6@produktiboatsahod.onmicrosoft.com.

Once the Western Visayas wage orders take effect in November, 11 regions in the country have implemented wage increases this year: the Bangsamoro Region effective on Feb. 28; Davao Region on March 6; Caraga on May 1; National Capital Region on July 17; Calabarzon on Sept. 30; Central Visayas on Oct. 2; Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Soccksargen on Oct. 17; and Ilocos Region on Nov. 7.