ILOILO City – Labor organizations in Western Visayas slammed the newly approved daily wage increase of P37 to P45 as “insulting” and “a mockery of workers’ dignity,” saying it fails to meet the soaring cost of living across the region.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) approved the new wage order after a series of consultations with stakeholders, with the increase set to take effect on November 19.
Under the new order, non-agriculture, industrial, and commercial workers in establishments with more than 10 employees will receive a P37 hike, raising their daily minimum wage from P513 to P550.
Small establishments with 10 or fewer workers will see a P45 increase, from P485 to P530.
Agricultural workers will get P40 more, from P480 to P520 per day, while domestic workers or kasambahays will receive an additional P500 in monthly pay, from P6,000 to P6,500.
Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr., RTWPB chairperson and regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said the wage order has already been signed by the board and is awaiting review and approval by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
“This review process is crucial to ensure adherence to existing wage laws and regulations,” Rodriguez said, noting that the measure followed “extensive consultations” with labor and management representatives, including a public hearing held in Iloilo City on October 8.
But labor groups were quick to condemn the approved increase, arguing it was “far too little” given the relentless rise in food and utility prices. The United Labor–Panay said the P37 adjustment “cannot even purchase a kilogram of rice.”
“The new daily minimum wage adjustment, which adds P37 to P45, is an insult and a mockery of workers’ dignity,” the group said in a statement, reiterating its earlier call for a P200 daily increase.
Business groups, meanwhile, cautioned against steep wage hikes, warning that small enterprises still reeling from the pandemic may struggle to sustain employment if forced to absorb higher labor costs.
Rodriguez acknowledged the delicate balance the board must maintain between workers’ welfare and business viability. He said the decision was guided by the Wage Rationalization Act (Republic Act No. 6727), which mandates equitable wage adjustments across regions.
Despite the increase, labor leaders vowed to continue pressing for a “living wage” that better reflects inflationary realities. They warned that the widening gap between economic growth and household income risks deepening poverty among workers in Western Visayas.
“As this situation develops, maintaining a balance between providing adequate compensation for workers and ensuring a supportive business environment will be crucial in navigating the economic future of Western Visayas,” Rodriguez said./PN
