P30 hike in Eastern Visayas minimum wage approved — DOLE

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) has approved the P30 daily minimum wage increase across all sectors and industries in the Eastern Visayas region. 

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Friday said the RTWPB in Region 8 issued Wage Order No. RB VIII-24 last November 5, which now brings the daily minimum rates from P405 to P435. 

The RTWPB also approved the P500 monthly increase for domestic workers or kasambahays in the region, bringing the monthly minimum wage range from P5,500 to P6,000. 

DOLE said that both wage orders will take effect on December 2, 2024. 

The department said the increase was imposed in consideration of the needs of workers and their families, capacity of employers/industry to pay, and the requirements of economic and social development in the region provided under Republic Act No. 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act. 

The wage increase is expected to benefit 126,095 minimum wage earners and 57,080 domestic workers.

“The new rates for workers in the private sector translate to a 7% increase from the prevailing daily minimum wage rates in the region and result in a comparable 10% increase in wage-related benefits covering 13th-month pay, service incentive leave (SIL), and social security benefits such as SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG,” DOLE explained. 

Further, the regional boards in the Cordillera Administrative Region, MIMAROPA, and Zamboanga Peninsula are currently in various stages of minimum wage determination process. 

On the other hand, the regional board in Bicol Region halted the wage determination process in the region due to the impact of Super Typhoon Kristine last October. — BAP, GMA Integrated News