Daily wage hike for agri, non-agri workers in BARMM approved
Minimum wage earners both in agriculture and non-agriculture sectors in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will receive a ₱20 daily income increase starting Feb. 28, the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) has announced.
In a statement, the Bangsamoro Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (BTWPB) approved Wage Order No. BARMM-03 on Feb. 7 and warned of penal consequences for non-observing employers.
The wage increase applies to nonagriculture workers employed in industrial, manufacturing, construction, commercial, mining, and academe, except family drivers, those employed in the personal service of another, and workers in registered Barangay Micro Business Enterprises with Certificates of Authority pursuant to Republic Act 9178.
Workers in plantation, nonplantation, and retail under the agriculture sector are also eligible to receive the ₱20 wage increase.
This means that the new basic pay rate will be ₱336 from ₱316 for the non-agriculture sector and ₱326 from ₱306 for the agriculture sector in all provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawitawi, and cities of Lamitan and Marawi.
Wage earners in Cotabato City and Special Geographic Area (SGA) in North Cotabato are now enjoying the new daily minimum wage rate ranging from ₱341 to ₱361 for the non-agriculture sector and from ₱316 to ₱336 for the agriculture sector.
BARMM Labor Minister Muslimin Sema said the regional wage order does not apply to family drivers, those employees in the personal service of another, or workers registered as barangay microbusiness enterprises.
Sema pointed out that Section 5 of the wage order states that “any person, corporation, trust of firm, partnership, association, or entity which refuses or fails to comply with this order shall be subjected to the penal provisions under RA 6727 as amended by RA 8188.”
The new wage order will take effect 15 days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the BARMM.