To take effect next month
TACLOBAN CITY- The region’s more than 1 million privately employed workers, both in the agriculture and non-agriculture sectors, are to receive a higher daily pay starting next month.
This after the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) approved Wage Order Number 20 pegging the daily minimum wage in both sectors at P305.
The new wage order increased by P20 the current daily minimum wage of workers in the non-agriculture sector while it raised the day pay of workers in the agriculture sector by P30.
The current daily minimum wage among non-agriculture workers is at P285 while those in the agriculture, to include in the sugar industry at P275.
Cyril Ticao, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for Eastern Visayas, said that the wage board decided on its own or moto propio.
“We took into consideration the increasing prices (of basic commodities) and gasoline in our action,” Ticao said.
He said that they have approved Wage Order Number 20 on May 7 and forwarded it to the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) for review and approval.
The NWPC approved the new wage order last Monday (May 21).
According to Ticao, Wage Order Number 20 will take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of regional circulation.
The DOLE regional director, who also act as the chairman of the RTWPB-8, warned employers to follow the new wage order.
“There is no exception on this wage order. This should be enforce by them. (Otherwise), we will conduct inspection for them to pay their workers accordingly or file charges against them for not following the wage order.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
