CEBU City— The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-7) approved on Sept. 06 an increase in minimum wage range of P33 to P43 for Central Visayas workers effective Oct. 2, benefitting about 364,834 laborers in the region.
The RTPWB7 granted the P33 for all the three geographical classifications, but as a result of the simplification of the wage structure where the non-agriculture sector is merged with the agriculture and non-agriculture with less than 10 workers, those in the latter category would have to shell out an extra P10 or P5 in order to keep up with the minimum wage of the former.
In Class A, those previously belonging to the non-agriculture category will simply add the P 33 increase, but those then under the agriculture and non-agriculture with less than 10 workers in Class A will have a total of P43 increase (P10 to close the gap then between agriculture and non-agriculture with less than 10 workers and non-agriculture, plus the P33 increase), bringing a uniform wage rate of P501 for Class A.
The same scenario will happen to Classes B and C, but those belonging in the agriculture and non-agriculture with less than 10 workers will be adding only P5 on top of the P33-increase granted by the board in order to reach the P463 and P453 uniform rate in the said classes.
Full details of the Classes, their respective areas of coverage and the new minimum wage rates are indicated as Class A minimum wage now is at P501, from the previous P468 + the approved P33 and this applies to the Cities of Carcar, Cebu, Danao, Lapulapu, Mandaue, Naga, Talisay & Municipalities of Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla, San Fernando or Expanded Metro Cebu.
For agriculture and non-agriculture establishments under Class A with less than 10 workers, the new minimum wage is from P458 +P43 (33+10).
Class B minimum wage is now at P463 from P430+33 increase and this applies to other cities not covered under Class A, including Bais, Bayawan, Bogo, Canlaon, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, Tagbilaran, Tanjay, and Toledo.
Agriculture and non-agriculture establishments under Class B with less than 10 workers, the minimum wage now is from P425+38 (33+5).
Class C minimum wage is now at P453 from P420 +33 and this applies to other municipalities not covered under Class A and B.
For agriculture and non-agriculture establishments under Class C with less than 10 Workers, the minimum wage is from P415 +38 (33+5)
It may be recalled that on July 25, the board motu proprio decided to start the wage deliberation process. A Notice of Public Hearing was published in a dominant local newspaper last Aug. 2, the 60th day prior to the anniversary of the wage order on Oct. 1, 2024. Stakeholders were invited to attend all the public hearings.
The RTWPB arrived at the increase in consideration of several factors such as the positions raised during the public hearing, the wage determination criteria provided under RA 6727 and the economic condition of the region, particularly the 2023 poverty threshold and the trends in inflation/inflation rates.
Pursuant to the provisions on the Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Fixing, a copy of the wage order was forwarded to the National Wages and Productivity Commission last September 6, the Commission affirmed the same on September 13, 2024 and authorized its publication.
The wage order is published in The Freeman on September 16 and to take effect on October 2, or after 15 days from publication. (PR/Photos: RTWPB7 FB Page)
