Wage hike gets nod in Regions VII, IX

THE Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards have approved the salary increases of workers in two regions in Visayas and Mindanao.

Based on the report, the workers in the Central Visayas (Region VII) will receive a P18-daily wage increase, while those in the Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) will get a P15 increase and another P15 to be integrated in the cost of living allowance under the previous wage order.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the latest wage increases by the wage board responded to the urgent need of workers—helping them cope with increases in the prices of commodities increases—without impairing the viability of business in their region.

The Labor chief pointed out that the workers will receive the adjustments upon confirmation by the National Wages and Productivity Commission and publication of the new wage orders.

Under the Wage Order 15 approved by the Region VII Wage Board, the non-agriculture sector in Class A cities and municipalities in Central Visayas will receive P285. Agriculture and sugar plantation workers in the region will have P267 and P235-minimum daily wage, respectively.

Upon effectivity of the new wage order, non-agriculture workers in Class B cities and municipalities will get P265-daily pay, while agriculture and sugar plantation workers will have P250 and P235, respectively.

Non-agriculture workers in the Class C areas will get P255-daily pay, while workers in agriculture and sugar plantations will both have P235.
Workers in Class D areas will be granted a P240-increase in their daily basic pay, while agriculture and sugar plantation workers will have P220- and P235-daily wage, respectively.

The workers in sugar mills, regardless of the area where they are working, will receive a daily pay of P255.

Class A cities in Region VII are Carcar, Cebu, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Naga and Talisay, while the municipalities are Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla and San Fernando (or expanded Metro Cebu).

In the cities of Toledo and Bogo and the rest of the municipalities in the province of Cebu, except the municipalities on the islands of Bantayan and Camotes, they are classified as Class B areas under the wage order.

Class C areas are the cities and municipalities in the provinces of Bohol and Negros Oriental, while Class D are the municipalities in the Province of Siquijor and municipalities in the islands of Bantayan and Camotes.

In the Zamboanga Peninsula, the minimum daily basic pay of non-agriculture workers will be P255 upon effectivity of Wage Order 16. Agricultural workers, including those in rubber-based plantations, will get P230-daily pay. Workers in plantations, agricultural enterprises, and non-agriculture enterprises will get P230- and P210-daily pay, respectively. Retail and service establishments not employing more than 30 workers will have P235-daily pay, while those in the cottage and handicraft industries will have P210-daily wage. –JOMAR CANLAS REPORTER, Manila Times