Wage board approves salary increase for workers in Region 9
- Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=900739
- Saturday, July 2, 2016
- (PNA), PGL/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO
ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 2 (PNA) -– The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) has approved a daily salary increase of Php16 for workers and Php500 monthly for household employees or “Kasambahay” here in Region 9.
Sisinio Cano, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional director, told the Philippines News Agency that the RTWPB unanimously approved the increase of the minimum wage and adjusts the household workers’ monthly pay in a meeting held on Thursday.
Cano, who sits as the chairperson of the RTWPB being the DOLE regional director, said the board is set to issue soon Wage Order No. 18 to implement the salary increase.
Cano said the decision to provide salary increase was based on the series of consultation the RTWPB has undertaken as well as based on the consumers’ price index, inflation rate, and purchasing power.
Cano said the new wage increase will take effect after a technical review by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) and publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Once the new wage order is in effect, the salary of the workers in the non-agricultural sector will increase to Php296 daily from Php280 a day.
The non-agricultural sector includes private hospitals, educational institutions, security agencies, janitorial and retail/service establishments with 30 workers and above.
The salary of the other sectors are as follows: plantation agricultural enterprises, Php271 from Php255; non-plantation agricultural enterprises, Php251 from Php235; and, retail service establishment, Php276 from Php260.
However, Cano said the salary for the workers in plantation agricultural enterprises, non-plantation enterprises, and for retail service establishment will be leveled to Php283 daily by October 31, 2017. The increase will be implemented on staggered basis.
He said the minimum monthly pay for household workers in cities and first class municipalities will be increased to Php2,500 from Php2,000 and in other municipalities to Pp2,000 from Php1,500 a month.
“Hopefully the employers will understand, they will cooperate with us, and implement the provisions of the new wage order,” Cano said
The last time the board has implemented salary increase through Wage Order No. 18 in the region was on June 10, 2013.
The RTWPB is composed of Edgar Lim and Robert Valerio, employers sector representatives; Jose Suan and Rey Anthony Trio, labor sector representatives; National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) regional director Teresita Socorro Ramos and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional director Sitti Amina Jain, vice chairpersons; and Cano as the DOLE regional director, chairperson.