Private sector employees in Calabarzon will soon receive higher daily minimum wages.
The wage increase approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Region IV-A ranges from P35 to P50, according to the Department of Labor and Employment.
This means the new minimum wage rates in the region will now range from P385 to P520 in the non-agriculture sector, P385 to P479 in the agriculture sector, and P385 for retail and service establishments employing not more than 10 workers.
Workers in the agriculture sector in Calaca, Batangas, and Carmona, Cavite, will receive an increase of P89 due to their reclassification from first-class municipalities to component cities.
The new rates will take effect 15 days after their publication, or on September 24.
”The increase, which considered the various wage determination criteria provided under Republic Act No. 6727, or the Wage Rationalization Act, resulted from several petitions filed by various labor groups seeking an increase in the daily minimum wage due to escalating prices of basic goods and commodities,” the DOLE said.
”The wage order is expected to directly benefit 719,704 minimum wage earners in Region IV-A. About 1.6 million full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage may also indirectly benefit as a result of upward adjustments at the enterprise level arising from the correction of wage distortion,” it added.
However, labor groups said the latest wage increase was not enough to cover rising living expenses.
“Kulang ang umentong ito kahit para sa isang kilong bigas sa isang araw at ni hindi makababawi sa nawala na at patuloy pang nawawalang halaga ng sahod ng manggagawa sa rehiyon. Sa kabila ng increase, ang tunay na halaga (real wage value) ng minimum wage ngayon sa Region 4-A ay P428.80 lamang,” said Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa (Kapatiran) chairperson Rey Almendras.
”Sa isinampa naming petisyon na P750 uniform wage sa buong Calabarzon, ang sagot ay kakapiranggot na P35 to 50. Pinanatili rin ang di pagkakategorya at pag-iiba-iba sa mga sahod sa loob ng iisang rehiyon,” added Mary Ann Castillo, convenor of the Workers Initiative for Wage Increase Southern Tagalog.
RTWPB-IV-A will conduct information campaigns to ensure compliance and provide assistance to enterprises in correcting possible wage distortions.
