Wage hikes in 14 regions take effect in June

FILE: Workers install steel bars on the Imus toll bridge in Imus City, Cavite as part of the ongoing construction of an additional lane on both sides of the structure on Wednesday (May 18, 2022). (PNA photo by Gil Calinga)

MANILA – Fulfilling Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III’s directive to review the existing minimum wage rates nationwide, 14 regional wage boards have already issued their respective wage orders granting pay hikes ranging between PHP30 and PHP110.

In a news release on Sunday, Bello thanked the wage boards for resolving with dispatch the petitions for wage adjustments, adding that minimum wage earners, including domestic workers, are expected to benefit from a series of pay hikes across the regions starting this month and until early next year.

The earliest wage hike of PHP33 took effect in the National Capital Region on Saturday, June 4, bringing the minimum wage rate to PHP570 for workers in the non-agriculture sector and PHP533 for those in the agriculture sector.

In the Cordillera Administrative Region, the PHP50-PHP60 pay hikes will be implemented in two tranches. The minimum wage in the region will be PHP380 effective June 14 and this will further increase to PHP400 effective January 1, 2023. The salary of kasambahay (house helpers) will also increase by PHP500 to PHP1,500, bringing the new minimum wage to PHP4,500 across the region.

For workers in the Ilocos Region, meanwhile, the new minimum wage rate will range from PHP372 to PHP400. The PHP60-PHP90 pay hike will be implemented in two to three tranches, starting June 6. The minimum wage for domestic workers will also climb to PHP5,000.

In the Cagayan Valley, the new minimum wage of PHP400-PHP420 will be implemented in two to three tranches, with the first tranche taking effect on June 8. Kasambahay will also benefit from the PHP1,000 pay hike, which brings their monthly minimum wage to PHP5,000.

Workers in Central Luzon are also set to benefit from a PHP40 wage hike, which will be implemented in two tranches across different sectors. This brings the new minimum wage to PHP414 to PHP460 in the region, while that in Aurora province will range from PHP344 to PHP409.

In Calabarzon, the new minimum wage, which will be implemented in two tranches will range from PHP390 to PHP470 in the non-agriculture sector; from PHP350 to PHP429 in the agriculture sector; and PHP350 in retail and service establishments employing not more than 10 workers.

Workers in Mimaropa, meanwhile, will benefit from a PHP35 pay hike starting June 10. This brings the new minimum wage to PHP329 for establishments with less than 10 workers and PHP355 for establishments employing 10 or more workers.

The wage board also granted an increase of PHP1,000 to the monthly wage rate of domestic workers, bringing the new minimum wage in the region to PHP4,500.

In Bicol, the new minimum wage will be PHP365 across all sectors. The PHP55 pay hike will be implemented in two tranches — on June 18 and on December 1. Kasambahays will also benefit from the wage increase of PHP1,000 to P1,500, which brings their monthly wage to PHP4,000.

In the Visayas, the new minimum wage will range from PHP410 to PHP450 for workers in the private sector and PHP4,500 for domestic workers in Region 6. The pay hikes took effect on June 5.

In Region 7 (Central Visayas), the new minimum wage will range from PHP382 to PHP435. Kasambahays will also get a PHP500 pay hike, which brings their monthly minimum wage to PHP5,500 for those in chartered cities and first-class municipalities and PHP4,500 for those in other municipalities. The pay hikes will take effect on June 14.

In Mindanao, the new minimum wage will range from PHP378 to PHP405 for workers in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao). The pay hikes will be implemented in two tranches, with the first tranche of PHP25 taking effect on June 18 and the second tranche of PHP15 to PHP22 taking effect on December 16.

The regional wage board also granted a monthly wage increase of P500 for domestic workers bringing the new monthly minimum wage rate in the region to PHP4,500 for cities and first-class municipalities and PHP3,500 for other municipalities.

In Region 11 (Davao Region), meanwhile, a PHP47 pay hike for workers across all sectors will be implemented in two to three tranches, starting June 19.

After full implementation of the wage tranches, the daily minimum wage rates in the Davao Region will be PHP438 in the agriculture sector, PHP443 in the non-agriculture sector, and PHP443 for retail/service establishments employing not more than 10 workers. Meanwhile, the new monthly wage rate for domestic workers in the Davao Region is PHP4,500.

In Region 12 (Soccsksargen), a PHP32-wage increase will be implemented in two tranches — one on June 9 and another on September 1. This brings the new minimum wage rate in the region to PHP368 for the non-agriculture sector and PHP347 for agriculture/service/retail establishments.

Lastly, in Region 13 (Caraga), the new daily minimum wage rate of PHP350 shall take effect in Butuan City and the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur on June 6; while the wage increase in the provinces of Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte, including Siargao Islands will be implemented in two tranches — one on June 6 and another on September 1.