Workers, ‘kasambahay’ gets wage increase

By BONG GARCIA, September 24, 2016, SunStar

THE thousands of workers in the private sector and the kasambahay (domestic workers) in Zamboanga Peninsula Region will receive salary increase starting October 1, this year.

Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) Regional Director Sisinio Cano said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) issued new wage orders granting salary increase to the kasambahays.

Cano, who also chairs the RTWPB, said the workers in the private sector such as the non-agricultural, agricultural, retail service establishment and cottage handicraft enterprises will receive daily salary increase of P16 based on the Wage Order No. 19.

Cano said the minimum salary, once Wage Order No. 19 will take effect are, will be as follows: non-agricultural, P296; plantation, P271 and non-plantation, P251 in the agricultural sector; retail service establishment (employing not more than 30 workers), P276; and, cottage handicraft enterprises, P251.

Cano said the domestic workers will receive an increase of P500 in their monthly salary whether they are working in cities, first class municipalities and other municipalities.

He said the minimum monthly salary of the domestic workers based on the new wage order will increase to P2,500 for those working in cities and first class municipalities and P2,000 in other municipalities.

The domestic workers include the general househelp, baby-sitter, cook, gardener, laundry, and any person who regularly performs domestic work in one household on an occupational basis.

Cano said the workers in the agricultural sector, retail service establishment and cottage handicraft enterprises will receive P283 daily salary towards the end of 2017 since they will receive wage increases on January 1, 2017 and October 1, 2017.

The salary increase on January 1, 2017 will be as follows: plantation, P6 and non-plantation P16 for the agriculture sector; retail service establishment, P7; and, cottage handicraft enterprise, P16.

On October 1, 2017, the salary increase will be the following: plantation, P6 and non-plantation P16 for the agriculture sector; and, cottage handicraft enterprise, P16.
Cano said the RTWPB issued of the new wage orders based in the economic review and wage consultation they have conducted in the region.