THE daily minimum wage for workers in the private sector in nine regions will soon be raised, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Sunday.
“Daily minimum wage adjustments vary across regions as per recommendations of [their] respective [regional tripartite wage and productivity boards] after different stages of consultations with labor and management representatives from various industries,” Bello said.
Among the regions to implement new wage orders are Region III with a P20 daily increase, effective on Aug. 1; Region IVA with a P9.45 daily increase, effective on April 28; and Region VI with P8.50-P26.50 daily increase with P5-P15 cost-of-living allowance, effective on July 12.
Other regions with new wage orders are Region VIII with P20-P30 daily increase, effective June 25; Region XII with a P16-P18 daily increase, effective May 11; and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with a P15 daily increase in the basic pay of workers.
Regions with new wage orders that are set for publication and will take effect in July and August are Region VII with P10-P52 daily increase; Region IX with P20 daily increase; and Region XI with P56.43 increase in the workers’ daily pay.
RTWPBs in Cordillera Administrative Region and Region V, whose wage orders have also reached their anniversary dates, are expected to issue wage orders within the month of July.
RTWPBs in remaining regions including the National Capital Region, Regions I, II, IVB, and Caraga, whose wage orders have yet to reach their anniversary dates, are assessing the socio-economic conditions in their respective regions through consultations with concerned government agencies and stakeholders in the private sector.
Based on Republic Act No. 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act, each region in the Philippines has a unique minimum wage set by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards based on the poverty threshold, employment rate, and cost of living specific to the region.