Wage adjustments approved for 4 Mindanao regions

Regional boards have approved wage adjustments in four Mindanao regions to benefit minimum-wage workers there, the Labor Department announced Tuesday. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the new rates apply to all private sector minimum wage earners in these regions regardless of position, designation, or status. An article on the DOLE website said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), Region 11 (Davao), Caraga, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) approved wage adjustments in their respective regions. Baldoz said the wage orders will be published after being reviewed and affirmed by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC). The wage orders will become effective 15 days after being published. In Northern Mindanao, Wage Order No. RX-15 will grant a P13 increase in the daily minimum wage and an integration of the P12 cost of living allowance (COLA) to the basic wage. In Region 10, the basic minimum wage per day in the non-agriculture industry in Wage Category (WC) I will be P269 from the previous P256; WC II will be P264 from P251; WC III will be P259 from P246, and WC IV will be P254 from P241. The minimum wage per day in the agriculture industry in WC I will be P257 from P244; WC II will be P252; WC III will be P247, and WC IV will be P242. WC I comprises the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and the municipalities of Tagoloan, Villanueva and Jasaan. WC II is composed the cities of Malaybalay, Valencia, Gingoog, El Salvador and Ozamiz, and the Municipalities of Maramag, Quezon, and Manolo Fortich. WC III includes the cities of Oroquieta and Tangub, and the Municipalities of Lugait, Opol and Mambajao. WC IV are other areas not covered under the above categories. In Davao, the regional board approved Wage Order No. RXI-16 which will give a P21 daily minimum wage increase. Upon effectivity, workers in the non-agriculture industry will receive a basic minimum wage of P286 per day from the previous wage of P265 per day. Those in the agricultural industry will get P276 per day from the previous P255. Workers in the retail/service industry employing more than 10 workers will receive P286 from the previous P265. Those in companies employing not more than ten workers will receive P255 per day from the previous P234. In Caraga, the regional board issued Wage Order RB No. XIII-10 granting a P10 wage increase and the integration of the P10.00 COLA to the basic wage. Workers in the non-agriculture industry will receive P243 from the previous minimum wage of P233. Those in the agriculture industry will get P233 and P213 in the plantation and non-plantation area, respectively, while those in the Retail and Service industry will receive P243 (for companies employing 10 or more workers) and P213 (for companies employing not more than 10 workers). In ARMM, the Regional Board approved a P12 per day wage hike for all sectors in the industry increasing the minimum wage to P222 per day from the previous P210. NWPC Executive Director Ciriaco Lagunzad III said in case of a wage distortion, those receiving above the minimum wage may likewise be given an adjustment in their wages after a negotiation between the employer and the workers or union. –VVP, GMANews.TV