SAN FERNANDO, La Union—Minimum wage earners in Region 1 will receive a pay hike ranging from P12 to P27 per day starting Oct. 2.
Henry John Jalbuena, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment and chairman of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, said the increase in the minimum daily wage of workers are as follows: large non-agriculture, from P253 to P280 or a P27 increment; medium non-agriculture, from P253 and P244 to P266 or a P12 and P21 increase; small non-agriculture, from P233 to P252 or a P19 hike; micro non-agriculture, from P227 to P243 or a P16 increase; agriculture plantation, from P233 to P252 or P19 increment; agriculture non-plantation, from P227 to P243 or a raise of P16; and commercial fishing, from P253 to 280 or P27 more.
Jalbuena said the new wage order will benefit 208,296 workers and employees working in 48,955 micro establishments in the Region 1.
The schedule for the orientations on the wage order is: October 17-Dagupan City for Pangasinan; October 19-City of San Fernando for La Union and October 21-Laoag City for Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
Excluded from the increase are kasambahays or domestic workers, family drivers and workers and employees of registered barangay micro business enterprises with certifications of authority.
The new wage order also exempts distressed establishments, new business establishments, retail/service establishments employing not more than 10 workers, and establishments adversely affected by natural and/or manmade disasters.
Jalbuena said the deadline for filing exemptions from the coverage of the wage order will be announced pending the approval of its implementing rules by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
Applications for exemption must be filed at the RTWPB-I or at the field offices of the DoLE-Regional Office I.
