Wage orders out for Calabarzon, Central Visayas

THE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) of Region IV-A (Calabarzon) and Region VII (Central Visayas) have issued wage orders raising the daily minimum wage rates of workers in private establishments in their respective areas.

In a statement, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported that the Calabarzon wage board has granted wage adjustments ranging from P21 to P75 per day.

“The new wage increase in Region IV-A will take effect on 30 September 2024, or after five days from the anniversary date of the previous regional wage increase (24 September 2023),” said DOLE.

The Calabarzon wage board has re-categorized the grouping of areas on the basis of the income classification of local government units and simplified the wage structure into the agriculture and non-agriculture sectors and retail establishments employing not more than 10 workers.

This means the daily minimum wages will rise to P450-P560 in the non-agriculture sector; P425-P500 in the agriculture sector; and P425 in retail and service establishments employing not more than 10 workers.

The Central Visayas wage board has granted wage adjustments ranging from P33 to P43 per day.

“In Region VII, the new wage order will take effect on 02 October 2024, the day immediately following the anniversary date of the previous regional wage order (01 October 2023),” said DOLE.

The Central Visayas wage board has kept its area-based classifications of Classes A, B, and C, but provides each class with a single wage rate for both agriculture and non-agriculture sectors.

The pay increase means that the daily minimum wage rates are P501 for Class A; P463 for Class B; and P453 for Class C.

The labor department said the two wage orders are expected to directly benefit a total of 1.2 million minimum wage earners in the Calabarzon and Central Visayas.

Additionally, the DOLE said some 2.7 full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage are also seen to indirectly benefit as a result of the correction of cases of wage distortion.

On the other hand, DOLE said retail/service establishments regularly employing not more than 10 workers and enterprises affected by natural calamities