More than 214,000 minimum wage earners in Western Visayas are set to receive higher daily wages following the approval of a P40 to P45 increase, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced Tuesday, November 3.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said approximately 214,757 workers will benefit from Wage Order No. VI-(WESTERN VISAYAS)-30, which was affirmed through the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
Under the new wage order, employees in non-agricultural, industrial, and commercial establishments with more than 10 workers will receive a P40 daily increase, raising their minimum wage from P550 to P590.
Workers in establishments employing 10 people or fewer will also receive a P40 adjustment, bringing their daily minimum wage from P525 to P565.
Meanwhile, agricultural workers will receive a P45 increase, raising their daily minimum wage from P520 to P565.
The new wage rates will also cover Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, and will take effect 15 days after the wage order’s publication.
Aside from workers in the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, approximately 68,000 domestic workers, or kasambahays, will benefit from a separate wage adjustment.
Under Wage Order No. VI (WESTERN VISAYAS)-DW-08, domestic workers will receive an additional P500 monthly, increasing their minimum monthly wage to P7,000.
During a press briefing at the DOLE Central Office on Tuesday, Tolentino said the adjustments were determined after considering economic conditions and the financial capacity of employers.
“Lahat kinonsidera ang cost of living, kinonsidera ang inflation, kinonsidera ang purchasing power ng piso at kinonsidera rin ang pangangailangan ng manggagawa at kakayahan ng mga kumpanya na magbigay ng dagdag sahod,” Tolentino said.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-VI conducted public consultations involving workers, employers, and other stakeholders before approving the wage adjustments.
According to DOLE, the consultations were intended to balance workers’ demands for higher wages with employers’ capacity to absorb additional labor costs.
The department urged employers to comply with the new minimum wage requirements once they take effect and encouraged employees to familiarize themselves with their rights and benefits under existing labor laws.
DOLE said the wage adjustments were consistent with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to promote fair and responsive wages while supporting business growth, productivity, and employment.
The department also reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing labor policies that protect workers and maintain economic stability.
