CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Region 10, through the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPD-10), has assured the public it will strictly monitor the wage increase implementation in Northern Mindanao region.
In a press conference on the new minimum rates in region 10 on Thursday afternoon, June 2, Albert Gutib, DOLE-10 director and RTWPD-10 chairperson, said that the department has a visitorial power over the employers who will not pay attention to the implementation.
“We conduct regular inspections. If there are concerns, we advise the to communicate with their employers. If they still do not give any attention, then that’s the time they can visit DOLE so that we can advise for a single entry approach,” explained Gutib.
The RTWPB in Northern Mindanao issued Wage Order No. RX-21 granted a P25 pay hike which will take effect on June 18 for the first tranche and another P15-P22 increase for the second tranche that will take effect on December 16 this year.
Gutib also clarified the minimum wage increase would also apply on employees who are just temporarily assigned in the region.
“On concern of assignment from the main office in the other regions, if temporarily transferred or assigned, will follow the originating region’s wage order. If assigned here, follow region 10’s wage order,” he said.
As to the exemption, the DOLE director also clarified that only establishments with less than 10 workers and affected by the calamities or human-induced disasters, including Covid-19 pandemic can file for the exemption.
He said the deadline of the application for exemption is on August 16, 2022.
After implementation of the wage tranches, the new minimum wage rates in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Malaybalay, Valencia, Gingoog, El Salvador, and Ozamiz and the municipalities of Tagoloan, Villanueva, Jasaan, Opol, Maramag, Quezon, Manolo Fortich, and Lugait are P405 for the non-agriculture sector and P393 for the agriculture sector.
Meanwhile, the new minimum wage rate in the cities of Oroquieta and Tangub and the municipalities of Laguindingan, Mambajao, Balingasag, and all other areas, including retail and service establishments employing not more than ten workers, are P390 for the non-agriculture sector and P378 for the agriculture sector.
The Board also issued RBX-DW-03 granting a monthly wage increase of P500 for domestic workers bringing the new monthly minimum wage rate in the region to P4,500 for cities and first-class municipalities and P3,500 for other municipalities.