The Bangsamoro Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (BTWPB) issued a new wage order setting the monthly minimum wage of domestic workers across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to P5,000.00.
BARMM’s Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) approved on August 19 the new wage order, following the board’s extensive consultation with labor organizations and stakeholders.
MOLE-BARMM Minister Muslimin Sema said the new wage is seen to improve the living conditions of domestic workers by enabling them to meet basic needs.
Employers lauded the fresh compensation package for domestic workers in BARMM, saying this is fairly better than those in other regions.
Lawyer Anwar A. Malang, the regional wage board’s employers’ representative, said the BARMM wage order is essentially a better package for local workers than the average level of minimum wage that other regions have to offer.
Sema said the wage order applies to all domestic workers in the region residing or working in the region, such as those performing household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, babysitting, gardening, and others of the same nature.
The wage order will take effect 15 days after its publication in at least one (1) regional newspaper of regional circulation in BARMM.
Malang noted it is a very good start for BARMM to have a minimum wage for housekeepers, which is higher than in other regions. This does not cover family drivers, children under foster family arrangements, and service providers.
“We are proud to announce the approval of the first minimum wage for domestic workers in BARMM. This decision reflects our commitment to ensuring that domestic workers receive fair and just compensation for their labor,” said Sema.
Sema said this is the first wage order for domestic workers, marking a significant step in the BARMM government’s broader effort to create a more equitable and inclusive society.
“The decision to set a minimum wage, with expectations for future increases, sends a strong message about the BTWPB’s commitment to social justice and economic empowerment for the Bangsamoro people,” he added.
The wage order also encourages employers to provide social benefits and training opportunities for domestic workers, in order to improve also in terms of their self-esteem, service quality, and productivity.
“With this minimum wage order, which promotes fair compensation and improved working conditions, domestic workers in BARMM will no longer need to seek employment in neighboring areas,” Malang said.
MOLE also emphasized that the BTWPB is implementing additional measures to improve working conditions, enforce labor standards, and raise awareness about the rights and protections available to domestic workers under the law.
