C. Visayas workers to get wage hike

MANILA, Philippines - Minimum wage earners in Central Visayas will receive an increase of P13 in their daily wage.

Exequiel Sarcauga, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Central Visayas director, said the wage order, which would cover workers in Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros Oriental, would be effective on Friday.

Under the new wage order, the salary of minimum wage earners in commercial and industrial establishments in cities and first class municipalities will increase to P366.       

In second class municipalities, the take-home pay of workers will rise to P333.

The minimum wage in third class municipalities will be pegged at P323 per day and P308 in fourth class towns, including Siquijor and the islands of Bantayan and Camotes.

Workers in the non-sugar agricultural sector in cities and first class municipalities will receive P348 while sugar workers will get P316. Non-sugar and sugar workers in second class  municipalities will get P318 and P303, respectively.

The daily wage of agricultural workers in third class municipalities will increase to P303 while non-sugar and sugar workers in fourth class municipalities will get P288 and P303, respectively.

The wage order does not cover household or domestic workers, personal assistants and those in micro business enterprises.        

On Friday, DOLE announced that minimum wage earners in Western Visayas would receive a salary hike ranging from P10 to P25 a day starting March 16.