Eastern Visayas wage hike takes effect Feb. 13

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 1 (PNA) – The new wage order raising the daily pay of minimum wage earners in Eastern Visayas between PHP10 to PHP25 will take effect on Feb. 13, 2017.

Citing Wage Order No. 19, Regional Tripartite and Wages Productivity Board Chairman (RTWPB) Chairman Elias Cayanong said there are varied adjustments depending on the nature of industry and number of workers.

Non-agriculture workers will get PHP25 hike while those working in sugar mills will get an additional daily pay of PHP23. Under the new order, sugar milling business was merged to the non-agriculture sector.

For cottage and handicraft workers, the daily increase is PHP15. Workers in agriculture-related businesses and sugar farm are entitled to PHP10 hike.

Retail and service shop owners with 10 workers or below are mandated to grant a daily raise of PHP10. Those employing 11 up to 30 workers are directed to give an additional pay of PHP15.

“The effects of super typhoon Yolanda and the successive subsequent typhoons to hit the region has caused a very slow growth in the agriculture sector more so to smaller farms and in the retail/service sector employing not more than 30 workers,” Cayanong explained.

“Hence, there is a need for the sub classification agriculture into non-sugar and sugar farm, merger of sugar mills to non-agriculture, and to sub classify retail/service into employing 10 workers and below.”

The RTWPB published the new order in a local newspaper on Jan. 28, 2017, a week after the National Wages and Productivity Commission formally affirmed the regional board’s decision. It will take effect 15 days after its publication.

With the new wage order, workers in the private sector are entitled to a daily wage of PHP245 to PHP285, depending on the nature of their work and size of businesses.

“The results of the consultations and public hearing as well as the review of socio-economic indicators revealed that there is a need to increase the minimum wage in Eastern Visayas without impairing the viability of businesses in the region,” Cayanong added. (PNA)
FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO