Bello thanks wage boards for speedy minimum wage review
LABOR Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III has thanked the wage boards in the National Capital Region and Region VI for expediting the review of the current minimum wage and granting wage increases in their regions.
“I thank the wage boards for heeding my call to expedite the review of the current minimum wage in their respective regions. Let me cite the good job done by the NCR and Region VI wage boards for taking the extra mile in resolving with dispatch the petitions for wage adjustments in their jurisdictions,” he said.
Bello also expressed optimism that the wage boards in other regions will also follow suit in the next few days.
Following the lead of the NCR and Western Visayas, I expect the other regional wage boards to issue their respective wage orders in the coming days and week. I am confident we can overcome the odds in wage-setting if only to help ease the living condition of our minimum wage earners,” he said.
Recently, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – NCR issued Wage Order No. NCR-23 on 13 May 2022 that granted a wage increase of PhP33 bringing the new minimum wage rate to PhP570 and PhP533 for workers in the non-agriculture and agriculture sectors, respectively.
It is expected to protect around one million minimum wage earners in private establishments in the region from undue low pay. The increase considered the restoration of the purchasing power of minimum wage earners because of the escalating prices of basic goods, commodities, and petroleum products.
The last Wage Order for workers in private establishments in NCR took effect on Nov. 22, 2018.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – VI issued Wage Order No. RBVI-26 providing a wage increase for workers in the non-agriculture, industrial and commercial establishments of PhP55 and PhP110 bringing the daily minimum wage in the region to PhP450 and PhP420 for those employing more than 10 workers and those employing 10 or less workers, respectively. In addition, the Board granted a PhP95 increase for workers in the agriculture sector bringing the daily minimum wage to PhP410.
It is expected to protect around 214,836 minimum wage earners in private establishments in the region from undue low pay. The increase considered the restoration of the purchasing power of minimum wage earners because of the escalating prices of basic goods, commodities, and petroleum products as well as to bring the minimum wage rate above the 2021 first semester poverty threshold.
Additionally, the Board issued Wage Order No. RBVI-DW-04 providing a wage increase of PhP500 bringing the new monthly minimum wage rate for domestic workers to PhP4,500. It is expected to benefit 160,795 domestic workers (49,413 live-in and 111,382 live-out).
The last Wage Order for workers in private establishments and for domestic workers in Western Visayas took effect on Nov. 26, 2019 and May 8, 2019, respectively.
The new Wage Orders will be submitted to the Commission for review and shall take effect fifteen days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation. By Lee Ann P. Ducusin
