KALIBO, Aklan – Private establishments in the province of Aklan employing not more than 10 employees may apply for exemption from paying the new minimum wage rate, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Aklan said.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Western Visayas through Wage Order No. RBVI- 26 and Wage Order No. RB6-DW-4 raised the daily wage rates in private establishments with more than 10 workers from P395 to P450.
The wage orders in Western Visayas will take effect on June 5.
The new minimum wage for workers in establishments employing 10 and below is P420 from 310. Agricultural workers will now get P410 from P315.
Meanwhile, kasambahays or household workers will receive P4,500 from the current P4,000 monthly pay.
The wage increase will apply to all minimum wage earners in private establishments, regardless of position, designation or status, in the provinces of Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Guimaras including the highly urbanised cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.
Joselito Dela Banda, officer-in-charge of DOLE-Aklan, said establishments employing not more than 10 workers adversely affected by natural calamities or have not recovered yet from the coronavirus pandemic can apply for exemption from paying the new minimum wage hike set by RTWPB.
DOLE conducted a public hearing and consultation on minimum wage adjustment in the province of Aklan on April 12 to assess the pulse of management and labor sectors.
RTWPB considered the inflation rate in the region, poverty threshold, purchasing power of the peso and average consumer price index in setting the minimum wage.
The last minimum wage adjustment in Western Visayas took effect on Nov. 26, 2019./PN
