Workers in the Caraga Region officially started the year with more money in their pockets as the first phase of the regional wage hike took effect on Saturday, January 3.
Under Wage Order No. RXIII-20, the daily minimum wage for private sector workers has risen from PHP 435 to PHP 455. This PHP 20 increase is the first of two scheduled tranches approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-Caraga late last year.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) confirmed that a second increase is already on the horizon, with the daily rate set to hit PHP 475 on May 1, coinciding with Labor Day.
For local workers like Pol Cabica, a delivery driver in Butuan, the adjustment is a welcome relief. Cabica said that while opinions on the amount vary among his colleagues, any addition to his take-home pay is a significant help for his family’s daily expenses.
The pay raise isn’t limited to the private sector. Domestic workers, or kasambahays, also saw a mandated salary bump this weekend. Per Wage Order No. RXIII-DW-06, the minimum monthly salary for domestic workers in the region has been adjusted from PHP 6,000 to PHP 6,500.
The adjustments are part of the government’s effort to help residents keep pace with the rising cost of living in the region. Local labor officials are expected to conduct inspections to ensure that employers are complying with the new rates immediately.
