Bacolod City – The Department of Labor and Employment – Western Visayas announced over the weekend that the wage orders for the increase in wages of workers in the private sector, as well as salaries of Kasambahays in Region 6, will take effect June 5.
This was after the wage increase in Western Visayas approved by the National Wages and Productivity Commission, was published on May 20 by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in a newspaper of general circulation.
Sections 5 and 9 of Wage Order No. RBVI-26 and Wage Order RB6-DW-4, respectively, state that its effectivity is 15 days from the date of its publication.
DOLE said that the new minimum wage rate for non-agricultural, industrial, commercial establishments with 10 or more employees will be ₱ 450, and ₱ 420 for those with less than 10 employees.
Agricultural workers, on the other hand, will receive a ₱ 410 daily minimum wage, while the new monthly salary for “Kasambahays” will be ₱ 4,500.
“It is good news for the daily wage earners, the kasambahays and their families,” disclosed DOLE regional director Sixto Rodriguez, Jr.
The NWPC found after review that Wage Order No. RBVI-26, which increases the daily minimum wage for private workers, has gone through the process, is reasonable and fair, and in harmony with Republic Act No. 6727 or The Wage Rationalization Act and its implementing rules and regulations.
Further, the Commission ruled that Wage Order No. RB 6-DW-04 for the increase in salary of the Kasambahays or domestic helpers is in accordance with Republic Act No. 10361 or the Batas Kasambahay.
The NWPC said that both Wage Orders were compliant with the Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Determination.
The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), however, said it is filing a notice of appeal before the RTWPB seeking the recall of its approved wage order.
Frank Carbon, MBCCI chief executive officer, stressed that while they are not opposing the wage increases, it should be done with “proper timing.”
“Let’s review it,” Carbon said, adding that there is a likelihood that they may agree to an increase of ₱ 25 to ₱ 30, but not ₱ 110.
That’s terrible, he added.
Rodriguez said that the highest wage increase implemented in the region is a welcome development for the workers and the Kasambahays whose wages and salaries were last increased in 2019.
“We have seen their actual economic situation and understand their needs. We will do our best to fast track the processes so the wage increase will be implemented as soon as possible,” he added. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)