ILOILO City – Effective Nov. 16, 2023, private workers in Western Visayas will have a P30 increase in their daily minimum wage.
The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) affirmed Wage Order No. RBVI-27 three days after it was submitted by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) 6 on Oct. 16.
“Effective November 16, 2023, the daily minimum wage rates in the region will be P480 for non-agriculture/industrial/commercial establishments with more than 10 workers, P450 for those establishments with 10 workers or less, and P440 for workers in agriculture,” read part of the NWPC’s announcement via Facebook on Sunday, Oct. 22.
The new minimum wage rates in Western Visayas:
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)
The new minimum wage rates shall cover the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental, including the component cities and highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.
Two labor groups in the region earlier filed petitions seeking a minimum wage increase for all workers in the private sector in the region, to wit:
* 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 P371.00
* 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.
Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr., RTWPB-6 chairperson and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 6 director, confirmed this to Panay News on Sunday afternoon but did not provide further details as he has yet to officially receive the decision from NWPC.
However, Rodriguez said he expects all employers to comply with the wage order.
P500 wage hike for ‘kasambahays’
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.
RTWPB-6’s wage orders will be published on Oct. 31, 2023 and take effect after 15 days.
“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.
As in any wage order, and as provided for in the NWPC Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Determination, retail/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 pursuant to Republic Act No. 9178 [2002].
The RTWPBs shall undertake information campaigns to ensure compliance and to provide assistance to enterprises in correcting possible wage distortions.
For exemption applications and further clarifications on the wage order, the RTWPB may also be reached through the following email address: Region 6 – rb6@nwpc.dole.gov.ph.
Previous wage order in the region became effective in June 2022.
As of date, eight RTWPBs have issued their respective wage orders, of which three were initiated motu proprio./PN
