P38 daily wage hike for Davao region workers

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews ) – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity BoardDavao Region (RTWPB-Davao) has approved a P38 daily increase for minimum wage earners in the region, to be implemented in two tranches starting next month.

In an announcement released by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Davao on February 19, it said that Wage Order No. RB XI-22 provides that the first P19 wage hike would take effect starting March 6 while the remaining P19, on September 1, 2024.

The wage order, dated February 13, was signed by DOLE-Davao director Atty. Randolf C. Pensoy as chairperson of RTWPB-Davao, National Economic Development Authority-Davao director Priscilla R. Sonido and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Davao assistant regional director Romeo L. Castañafa as vice chairpersons, and Virginia T. Camus and Atty. Susan P. Carriaga as workers and employers’ representatives, respectively.

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) earlier asked for a P150 increase in minimum wage last February 5, but the board, after deliberations, approved only P38.

In a phone interview on Tuesday, Renyboy Baliguat, campaign officer of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)-Southern Mindanao, said the new increase to the income of minimum wage earners in the region is not enough to address the needs and daily expenses of their families.

He said the additional P38 is just enough “to pay for jeepney fares and an instant coffee,” but not sufficient to cover the cost of daily needs of a family, electricity and water bills, and allowances of their students, among others.

He said the KMUSouthern Mindanao is proposing a national minimum wage of P750 per day.

The board said that significant changes in inflation, poverty threshold, and other socio-economic indicators were noted during a “thorough review and evaluation of the existing socioeconomic conditions in the region.”

Once the first tranche is implemented, the new minimum wage for nonagricultural sector workers will be P462 per day and P457 for workers in the agricultural sector.

Meanwhile, the wages for non-agricultural sector workers will be adjusted to P481 per day and P476 for workers in the agricultural sector once the second tranche gets implemented.

The board also adjusted the minimum wage of domestic workers in the region from P4,500 to P6,000 monthly for those employed in chartered cities and firstclass municipalities, and P5,000 monthly for those in other municipalities, also effective March 6.

According to DOLEDavao, the region counts at least 100,000 minimum wage earners and 65,000 domestic workers. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)