THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) in the Central Visayas, or Region 7, said two minimum wage hikes for separate categories of workers have been decided by the region’s wage board, with the decision awaiting review at national level.

DoLE in Region 7 said in a statement Monday that the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-7) has set new rates for minimum wage earners and domestic workers in Central Visayas.

DoLE Regional Director Salome O. Siaton said that the wage orders have yet to be published. She added in the statement, “Such increase is still subject to the review by the NWPC (National Wages Productivity Commission) and must be approved thereafter by the Secretary.”

Wage Order No. ROVII-22 sets the wage increase for daily prescribed salaries of workers in the private sector while Wage Order No. ROVII-D.W. 02 provides the new minimum wage rates for domestic workers.

According to Ms. Siaton, the wages were set according to a classification defined in RTWPB 7’s last wage order which took effect on Aug. 3, 2018, grouping cities and municipalities in the region by class.

“The reclassification of the wage structure is in line with the thrust of the Board to rationalize the wage structure in the Region. Of course, we did it after taking into account all the recommendations of stakeholders present during the public hearings and consultations conducted.”

Wages for non-agriculture minimum-wage employees in the private sector are set by location. Such workers in Class A cities and municipalities or the Expanded Metro Cebu Area (the cities of Carcar, Cebu, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Talisay, Naga and the municipalities of Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla, and San Fernando), will now receive P404 daily. Agricultural workers in this category will get P394.

The corresponding rates for Class B (Bais, Bayawan, Canlaon, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, and Tanjay in the province of Negros Oriental; and Bogo and Toledo in the province of Cebu and Tagbilaran in Bohol), will be having a daily wage rate of P366.00. Workers in the agriculture sector will have a take home pay of P361.

Class C non-agriculture workers from all other municipalities are to receive P356.00, while agricultural workers will receive P351.

RTWPB 7 Board Secretary Grace G. Carreon said that the new minimum wage for domestic workers also varies by location. The last wage order issued for domestic workers took effect on April 13, 2017.

She said in a statement Monday, “From the existing P3,000.00 minimum monthly pay, domestic workers or the kasambahay employed in the Cities and First Class Municipalities should now be paid P5,000.00 monthly and those working in other municipalities should now receive not less than P4,000.00 per month from… P2,500.00 (previously).” — Gillian M. Cortez

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