Minimum wage earners in Northern Mindanao received a P15- to P22-increase in their daily take-home pay as the second tranche of the approved wage order for Region 10 took effect on Friday, Dec. 16, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Under the wage order RX-21 of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) that took effect in November 2018, the salary increase for North Mindanao workers were given in two tranches.
DOLE Region X said the first salary adjustment amounting to P25 was implemented on January 1, 2020, while the second and final tranche took effect starting December 16, 2022.
The adjusted minimum wage will affect domestic workers from Cagayan de Oro City, El Salvador City, Iligan City, Gingoog City, Malaybalay City, Ozamiz City, and Valencia City, as well as in the municipalities of Jasaan, Lugait, Manolo Fortich, Maramag, Opol, Quezon, Tagoloan and Villanueva. Their daily wages are P405 and P393 for the non-agriculture and agriculture sectors, respectively.
Meanwhile, the new minimum wage in the cities of Oroquieta and Tangub, as well as in the towns of Balingasag, Laguindingan, Mambajao, and all other areas with retail and service establishments employing not more than ten workers will be P390 and P378 for non-agriculture, and agriculture sector, respectively.
According to DOLE, the new wage order would benefit over 150,000 workers in private establishments and 56,000 domestic workers.
DOLE warned private employers not abiding by the new wage order will be penalized by the law under the existing Labor Code of the Philippines.
“Any person, corporation, trust, firm, partnership, association or entity who refuses or fails to pay the prescribed increase shall be dealt with pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of RA No. 6727, as amended by RA No. 8188,” the wage order stated.