ILOILO City – Minimum wage earners in Western Visayas are set to receive higher daily pay after the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) approved a P40 to P45 wage increase for private sector workers, raising the region’s highest minimum wage rate to P590 per day.
The approval of Wage Order No. RBVI-30, confirmed by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6 director Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr. on Tuesday, November 3, comes amid concerns from some business groups that the additional labor costs could trigger employee layoffs and even business closures.
Rodriguez, who chairs the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), said the NWPC, headed by DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino, approved the wage order without changing the proposed increases.
“’Yan ang information forwarded to us – na-approve na ang ating issued wage order,” Rodriguez told Panay News.
Under the approved wage order, workers in non-agricultural establishments employing more than 10 workers will receive an additional P40 daily, increasing their minimum wage from P550 to P590.
Employees of non-agricultural establishments with fewer than 10 workers will likewise receive a P40 increase, bringing their daily minimum wage from P525 to P565.
Agricultural workers, meanwhile, will receive a P45 daily increase, raising their minimum wage from P520 to P565.
The new rates represent increases of approximately 7.3 percent for workers in larger non-agricultural establishments, 7.6 percent for those in smaller establishments, and 8.7 percent for agricultural workers.
Rodriguez said DOLE-6 is awaiting the official copy of the approved wage order to finalize minor adjustments in its formatting and wording before publication.
The wage increases will take effect 15 days after publication, making the actual implementation date dependent on when the approved order is published.
“We will publish it as soon as possible kag pagna-publish na, ma-take effect na po,” Rodriguez said.
The approval comes despite objections from some business groups that warned the additional wage burden could force establishments to reduce their workforce.
Rodriguez acknowledged these concerns but emphasized that the wage board had conducted a series of public hearings and consultations before determining the increases.
He said business groups were given opportunities to present their positions during the consultations and could still submit position papers outlining additional concerns or recommendations for appropriate action.
“We respect their position. During our consultations and public hearings napakinggan naman natin sila at kung mayroon man silang ibang mungkahi ay puede naman nilang sabihin sa amin,” Rodriguez said./PN
