Salary increase for Ilocos workers
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Minimum wage earners in the Ilocos region will receive a pay increase of up to R30 starting April 30.
Nathaniel V. Lacambra, chairman of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) and the regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced that with the increase, the highest daily minimum wage rate in the region will be R340.
He said Wage Order No. RB1-20 and its implementing rules will take effect 15 days after its publication on April 15. The new rates are:
• R30 per day for workers receiving R310 daily in establishments employing 30 or more workers
• R25 per day for workers receiving P285 daily in establishments employing 10 to 29 workers
• R17 per day for workers receiving P265 daily in establishments employing less than 10 workers
• R17 per day for workers receiving R256 daily in establishments employing less than 10 workers upon effectivity of the order, and R9 more per day six months after the effectivity of the order
• R30 per day for workers receiving R265 daily in agriculture plantation enterprises
• R26 per day for workers receiving R256 daily in agriculture non-plantation enterprises.
“It was decided by the board to adopt employment size in determining the classification of industries to simplify the wage structure,” Lacambra said.
It was also necessary to conform to the provisions of section 4(a) of Republic Act 6727, or the Wage Rationalization Act, he added.
“After careful review of socio-economic conditions during public hearings and board meetings, the amounts of increase were determined to balance the needs of workers and businesses,” Lacambra said.
Increases higher than those agreed upon could lead to more problems in the future, he added.
Wage Order No. RB1-19 fixed the minimum wage at R310 for large companies and commercial fishing, R285 for medium enterprises, P265 for small establishments and agricultural plantation and P256 for micro establishments and agricultural non-plantation.