ILOILO City – A P30 increase in the daily minimum wage of private workers in Western Visayas will take effect on Nov. 16.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) calls on all employers to comply with Wage Order No. RBVI-27 issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).
The increase covers the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental, including the component cities and highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod, said DOLE Region 6 director, Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr.
For non-agriculture/industrial/commercial
* Employing more than 10 workers – current minimum wage rate (P450); new minimum wage rate (P480 or P30 increase)
* Employing 10 workers or less – current minimum wage rate (P420); new minimum wage rate (P450 or an increase of P30)
* For agriculture – current minimum wage rate (P410); new minimum wage rate (P440 or an increase of P30)
There are no exemptions in the new wage order, which is why all private employers are expected to follow it.
However, Rodriguez said employers can file exemption applications with the RTWPB through the following email address: Region 6 – rb6@nwpc.dole.gov.ph.
“So far, the wage order has not provided for any exemption. (But) kung may mag-file, then the board will consider,” Rodriguez said.
As provided in the National Wages and Productivity Commission (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.
DOLE-6 will conduct monitoring through its Labor Inspection Enforcement to determine the compliance rate of private employers.
Rodriguez encouraged private employees to report to their office if they do not receive an increase in the daily minimum wage so that DOLE-6 can validate it.
“Wala naman penalty except ay ‘yan ay dapat nilang bayaran; the employees, puede silang tumawag sa aming tanggapan at tingnan namin kung paano ma-implement at ma-require ang employers to comply with it,” he added.
Two labor groups in the region filed petitions seeking a minimum wage increase for all workers in the private sector in the region:
* United Labor-Western Visayas (ULWV) proposed on March 3, 2023 an increase of P100 and a minimum wage of P550
* Iloilo Pepsi Cola Workers Independent Union (IPCWIU) proposed on March 20, 2023 an increase of P100 and a minimum wage of P550
After receiving their petitions, the RTWPB-6 conducted a series of consultations with stakeholders:
* provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras and Iloilo City on July 20, 2023
* province of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City on Aug. 1, 2023
* provinces of Iloilo, Antique and Capiz on Aug. 15, 2023
* provinces of Aklan and Capiz on Aug. 29, 2023
On Oct. 5, a public hearing was held at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 6 office.
“In the determination of the minimum wage, the Board has accordingly taken into consideration the various socio-economic criteria under Republic Act No. 6727 and complied with the procedures laid down in the Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Determination,” read part of Wage Order No. RBVl-27.
After a thorough review and evaluation of existing socio-economic conditions in the region, as well as the positions of labor and management, the following were established:
* The Consumer Price Index in the region was 125.3 in September 2023, up from 115.5 in June 2022.
* Regional inflation rate as of September 2023 is 6.6 percent
* Purchasing power of the peso is P0.80 in September 2023
* 2021 poverty threshold for a family of five is P371
* Gross regional domestic product growth rate is 9.3 percent for 2021-2022
* The regional employment, underemployment and unemployment rates are 95.5 percent, 19.5 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively.
Rodriguez explained they had not given the P100 wage hike petition based on the request of the two labor groups because they were looking at the employers’ capacity to pay.
“Puede rin i-consider as early Christmas gift pero that is their demand at ating binigyan pansin ang kanilang petition kaya lang ay hindi natin nabigay ang total amount of what they petitioned, binigyan lang natin sila nga karapat-dapat considering the employers capacity to pay po,” Rodriguez said.
The previous wage order in the region became effective in June 2022.
P500 wage hike for ‘kasambahays’
Starting Thursday, the P500 increase in the wage of kasambahays in the region will also take effect.
From their P4,500 monthly minimum, kasambahays should be receiving P5,000 beginning Nov. 16.
Kasambahays refer to general househelp, yaya, cook, gardener, laundry person, and any person who regularly performs domestic work in one household on an occupational basis.
“Wage Order No. RB-VI-DW-05 provides a monthly increase of P500 for domestic workers or kasambahays in Region 6, bringing the monthly wage rate from P4,500 to P5,000 effective Nov. 16, 2023,” the NWPC announced.
“The increases, which considered the various wage determination criteria provided under Republic Act No. 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act, either resulted from the motu proprio act of the Board or petitions filed by labor groups seeking an increase in the daily minimum wage due to escalating prices of basic goods and commodities,” further read the NWPC’s press release.
Each Board, comprised of representatives from the government, management and labor sectors, conducted public hearings and wage deliberations./PN
