Cebu City (CNN Philippines, November 27) — A regional wage-setting body has approved an ₱18 increase in the daily minimum pay of private sector workers.
The raise approved by the Central Visayas Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boardwill be enforced upon by the National Wages Productivity Commission, which is under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Once approved, non-agriculture establishments with more than 10 workers in Metro Cebu will have a daily minimum wage of ₱404. For businesses with less than 10 workers, the minimum wage will be ₱396.
The rates in the rest of the region will range from ₱331 to ₱404, depending on the city and municipality classes.
Jose Tomongha, labor sector representative of the regional wage board, said the increase is still not enough for the workers, but welcomed the development.
He said they also pushed for the increase in the salary of house helpers in Metro Cebu to up to ₱5,000 per month in Metro Cebu, ₱4,000 in other areas.
DOLE Central Visayas Regional Director Salome Siaton said the purchasing power of peso, inflation rate, and regional poverty threshold were among the economic indicators considered in the decision to increase the daily minimum wage.
It is uncertain if the workers can enjoy higher pay before Christmas, since no timeline was given as to when it will be approved.
