Starting Nov. 7, workers in the private sector across the Ilocos Region are set to receive a P33 daily wage increase following the approval of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
In a statement, DOLE said the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) confirmed Wage Order No. RB 1-23, which establishes the new daily minimum wage at P435 for agricultural workers and non-agriculture sectors with fewer than 10 employees, while those with 10 or more employees will earn P468.
This wage adjustment, representing an 8 percent increase, will also impact wage-related benefits, including the 13th-month pay, service incentive leave, and contributions to SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG.
In addition to the wage increase, the RTWPB approved a P500 monthly raise for domestic workers, or kasambahay, bringing their monthly salary to P6,000.
The adjustments are expected to directly benefit 170,143 minimum wage earners and indirectly affect approximately 349,112 full-time wage and salary workers, along with 99,024 domestic workers in the region.
This decision aligns with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s directive for regional wage boards to review and adjust minimum wage rates.
Earlier this year, the RTWPB of the National Capital Region approved a P35 increase in the daily minimum wage for non-agricultural workers, with other regional boards expected to complete their reviews by the end of 2024.