LEGAZPI CITY – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Bicol (RTWPB-5) has granted a PHP30 daily wage increase for all private sector workers.
In an interview on Friday, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Bicol Regional Director Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita said the salary adjustment from the previous PHP365 would be given in one tranche.
“Starting Dec. 1, 2023, the new daily minimum wage for workers in the private sector in the Bicol region will be PHP395,” Campita said.
She asked for the cooperation of all private-sector employers for the salary increase under Wage Order No. RBV-21.
“Employers who will fail to comply may be subject to penalties for violation of RA (Republic Act) 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act,” she said.
The last wage order in the region took effect in December 2022.
Meanwhile, the board also issued Wage Order No. RBV-DW-03 granting a monthly increase of PHP1,000 to the salary of domestic workers in chartered cities, first-class municipalities, and other municipalities.
“The new monthly wage rate for kasambahay (domestic workers) in the region is now at PHP5,000. May they be on a live-in or live-out arrangement they are entitled to the increase,” Campita said.
Domestic workers include general household, yaya (babysitter), cook, gardener, laundry person, and any person who regularly performs domestic work in one household on an occupational basis.
Service providers, family drivers, children under a foster family arrangement who are provided access to education and given allowance incidental to education, and other people who perform work occasionally and not on an occupational basis will not be part of the wage increase.
Before the approval of the salary hikes, the board, comprised of representatives from the government, management, and labor sectors, conducted consultations in all six provinces. I Connie Calipay