New wage rates in Eastern Visayas
Agricultural workers and those in the service sector with 10 workers and below will now receive a daily pay of P285 in the first six months and P295 on the seventh month
TACLOBAN CITY — The new wage order that grants P20 increase to the daily rate of minimum wage earners took effect here yesterday.
The increase in daily take-home pay was approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) of Eastern Visayas on 22 July and subsequently concurred by the National Wages and Productivity Council.
Under Wage Order 21, all minimum wage earners in the region will receive the increase in two tranches — the first tranche is a P10 increase yesterday, 18 August, while the second tranche will give another P10 increase starting 18 February next year.
The former daily minimum wage in Eastern Visayas for non-agriculture in companies with 11 employees and above is pegged at P305 while retail service with 10 workers and below is P275, which is the same rate for agricultural workers.
With the new wage order taking effect, minimum wage earners in non-agriculture including those in retail service with more than 10 workers now receive a daily rate of P315 on the first six months and an additional P10 on the seventh month, or a minimum daily wage of P325.
Agricultural workers and those in the service sector with 10 workers and below will now receive a daily pay of P285 in the first six months and P295 on the seventh month.
RTWPB chair Yahya Centi, who is also the regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment in Eastern Visayas, said the decision to review the regional wages was done by the board “motu propio” as mandated by the law since there was no petition submitted by any sector.
Centi added that the new wage rates were based on “consolidated economic indicators” such as poverty incidence, consumer price index and purchasing power of peso as well as the impact to the region of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN law.
“The new wage has gone through a tremendous perusal and extensive debates within the board,” Centi said. “It is not a whimsical decision of the board but a product of cross sectoral consultations.”
Consultations for the new minimum wage started in April and were done in the cities of Ormoc, Maasin, Catbalogan, Borongan and Tacloban and provincial capital of Catarman in Northern Samar and Naval in Biliran.
Reynaldo Soliveros, secretary of the wage board, says the new minimum wage was set based on the need to increase the earnings of ordinary workers, the capacity to pay of local businesses and the need to increase business activity in the region.