Central Visayas workers may get pay hike

MANILA, Philippines — Minimum wage earners in Central Visayas may receive a differential pay or a possible increase in their daily take home pay.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ordered the granting of differential pay to minimum wage earners in the region who have not received a pay increase since last year.

Salome Siaton, DOLE Central Visayas chief, said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) would also look into the possibility of increasing the prevailing minimum wage rate in the region.

“Workers who were not paid with correct daily wage based on the minimum rate applicable in their area starting Jan. 5 last year, will receive the difference between their existing wage rate and the new rate provided under Wage Order VII-22,” Siaton said in a statement issued yesterday.

Of all the provinces in the region, only Bohol filed a moratorium on the implementation of the wage order.

The National Wages and Productivity Commission and the RTWPB do not have the authority to defer or postpone the implementation of a wage order, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said.

Under the order, non-agricultural workers in Class A cities and municipalities should receive P404 per day.

Establishments in these areas employing less than 10 workers should pay their workers P394 per day.

Those working under Class B cities and towns should receive P366 daily wage and establishments with less than 10 workers should pay their workers P361 per day.

Class C municipalities should pay their workers P356 per day and those employed in establishments with less than 10 workers should receive P351 in daily wage.

Since the wage order lapsed on Jan. 5, the RTWPB will review the existing wage rates applicable in different provinces in the region, Siaton said.

“Due to the pandemic, the board was not able to review the wage rates, which was supposed to have taken place late last year,” she said.