The daily minimum wage in Western Visayas increases by Php15-30 will take effect on November 27,2019.
“The latest wage order should be effective 15 days after publication by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-6,” Negrense labor leader Wennie Sancho said.
Wage Order No. 25 emphasizes a PHP30 increase for workers in non-agriculture, industrial, and commercial establishments employing more than 10 employees. This was approved last October 22, 2019.
Sancho, a worker’s representative to the board, “hopes that the wage increase would somehow stabilize the purchasing power of the workers, especially this Christmas season”.
He added that the implementation is an early Christmas gift for employees as this will be included in their 13th-month pay.
The daily minimum wage in Western Visayas is at PHP395 starting on November 27.
Region 6’s previous daily minimum wage is PHP365.
On the other, employees of establishments with less than 10 workers will receive an additional PHP15 — from PHP295 to PHP310.
“For the agricultural sector, plantation workers will get a PHP20 hike — from PHP295 to PHP315,” the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.
10 days after the publication will be given to the employer’s sector to contest the order.
“The reckoning date of the implementation would still be the same. Some employers normally wait for the implementing rules. Since the date of effectivity remains the same, it will still be retroactive,” Sancho mentioned.
Respectively, Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) stated that the business sector is “very disappointed” with the latest wage order.
Local businesses will be at a disadvantage with a higher cost for them.
“Multi-national companies can afford to pay more because they also have the capacity to pay more. Also, they have the capacity to locate themselves in the best area in the city,” Carbon added.
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