CEBU CITY, Cebu, May 31 (PIA) -- The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-7) has approved the highest wage increase set in Central Visayas since 1989 for the minimum wage earners.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary and DOLE-7 Concurrent Head Victor Del Rosario, who also chairs the Wage Board, said that a P31 increase shall be applied to all existing minimum wage rates in the region both in the agriculture and non-agriculture sectors.

“The new minimum wage rates in the region will now range from P382 to P435,” said Del Rosario.

The Board has concluded the deliberations right after the conduct of a series of public hearings.

Upon the effectivity of the new wage order, the minimum wage earners in Central Visayas should see the increase reflected in their daily wage.

“The P31 increase is by far the highest in Region 7 since 1989," he said.

To recall, in 1989, there was only a P25 increase that was approved by the Board.

“The last Wage Order, No. ROVII-21, which took effect on January 5, 2020, only provided an P18 increase across all classifications,” added Del Rosario.

The new wage order collapsed the industry classifications into just two - Non-Agriculture and Agriculture/Non-Agriculture with less than 10 workers combined.

In the Non-Agriculture category, workers in the Class A cities and municipalities or the Expanded Metro Cebu area will receive P435 from P404.

Those in Class B cities and municipalities will be paid P397 from the previous rate of P366.

Minimum wage earners in Class C municipalities will receive P387 from the last daily wage of P356.

Under the Agriculture and Non-Agriculture with less than 10 workers classification, those working in areas falling under Class A cities and municipalities will be paid P425 from P394 daily wage.

Those in Class B areas will receive P392 from the previous wage rate of P361.

Those working in Class C localities, on the other hand, will get P382 from P351.00 daily rate.

As for the Kasambahays, there is also a P500 increase in their existing monthly wage.

Kasahambahays working in First Chartered Cities and First Class municipalities will be paid P5,500 from P5,000.

For those working in other municipalities, they will receive P4,500 from the current P4,000 monthly wage.

The Board thoroughly scrutinized and religiously deliberated all petitions filed, while carefully taking into consideration all relevant factors included in fixing the minimum wage in the Region.

“All pertinent facts were studied as well as the other conditions existing in the different provinces and the different industries therein. With all of that, we’re able to arrive at this particular consensus,” explained del Rosario.

He emphasized though that the wage order would still be submitted to the National Wages and Productivity Board (NWPC) for review.

“Despite the crisis particularly the pandemic that wreaked havoc among us, the Board managed to come up with a decision, which we fervently hope is as nearly adequate as is economically feasible to maintain the minimum standards of living necessary for the health, efficiency and general well-being of the workers,” he added. 

The new wage order will take effect 15 days from its publication in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the region. (HFG/PIA7 with reports from DOLE7)