New wage hike for Eastern Visayas workers takes effect

By DOLE-8
August 20, 2019

TACLOBAN CITY – As Wage Order No. RB VIII-21, “Prescribing New Minimum Wage Rates for Eastern Visayas”, takes effect on August 18, 2019, the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office VIII urges employers to immediately comply.

Director Yahya A. Centi, DOLE RO VIII Director and Chairman of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), happily announced in an interview with media practitioner the effectivity of the new wage order.

“After all the region-wide consultations with different sectors, I am happy to announce that the wait is finally over. Our new wage order is now effective”, said Centi.

Director Centi informed that the regional wage board has done its best effort for the welfare of the workers while still considering the employers’ side.

“As chairman of the board, I can say that we have done what’s best for both our labor and management sector in so far as wage-fixing is concerned. Having considered the current socio-economic indicators in our region, we are able to derive the new minimum wage”, Centi added.

With the effectivity of Wage Order No. RB VIII-21, workers in the private sector in Region VIII shall receive a basic wage increase of P20.00 per day to be given in two tranches as follows: P10.00 per day for the first six months from effectivity and additional P10.00 per day starting on the seventh month from effectivity.

Effective August 18, new minimum wage rates for Region VIII for the first six (6) months will be as follows: P315.00 for workers under Non-Agriculture and Retail/Service establishments employing 11 workers and above; P285.00 for workers in Cottage/Handicraft, Agriculture and Retail/Service establishments employing 10 workers and below.

After successfully issuing the new wage order, Director Centi urged all private employers to comply.

“We in the labor department are now calling all our employers in the private sector to adhere to the new order. This is our gift for our minimum wage earners who significantly contribute to your respective businesses here in Eastern Visayas, so please comply immediately”, Centi said.