The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) has approved a salary increase for minimum wage earners in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Soccsksargen, the Department of Labor of Employment (DOLE) has disclosed.
In a statement, DOLE said the NWPC decision affirmed the order of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) in the three regions, with the new pay rates set to take effect on Oct. 17.
In Cagayan Valley, the RTWPB-2 has granted a P30 increase to the daily minimum wage across all sectors.
Following the new wage order, the daily minimum wage for the non-agriculture sector will rise from P450 to P480, while workers in the agriculture sector will see their wages increase from P430 to P460.
Additionally, household service workers, or kasambahay, will benefit from a P500 increase in their monthly salary, raising the minimum monthly wage to P6,000.
The adjustment is expected to benefit approximately 49,165 domestic workers, with 15 percent residing with their employers and the remainder living independently.
In Central Luzon, the RTWPB has streamlined the wage structure across various industry classifications, granting pay increases ranging from P50 to P66 per day.
Consequently, the daily minimum wage will rise to P550 for non-agriculture workers, P520 for those in agriculture, and P540 for retail and service establishments, effective upon the full implementation of all tranches next year.
Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) workers will see wage increases ranging from P27 to P48, bringing the daily minimum wage to P430 for both non-agriculture and retail and service sectors, while the agriculture sector will have a minimum wage of P410, effective June 2025.
DOLE said the new wage rates for private sector workers in these three regions will yield a 7 to 15 percent increase from the current minimum wage levels.
The wage orders are expected to directly benefit approximately 905,000 minimum wage earners, in addition to about 1.7 million full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum rate.
The previous wage orders for workers in private establishments and domestic workers in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Soccsksargenwere effective as of Oct. 16, 2023.