Starting Nov. 17, the daily take-home pay of minimum wage earners and the monthly salary of domestic workers in Region VI will increase following the approval of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has announced.
In a statement, the DOLE said the new wage adjustment, aimed at addressing the rising cost of living, includes a daily wage increase of P33 to P40 for minimum wage earners across various sectors.
The adjustment will raise the daily minimum wage in the non-agricultural sector to a range of P485 to P513, while agricultural workers will now receive P480 daily, up from P440.
Specifically, non-agricultural workers in commercial or industrial establishments with more than 10 employees will receive a P33 increase, bringing their daily pay to P513.
For smaller businesses with 10 or fewer employees, non-agricultural workers will see a P35 increase, resulting in a daily wage of P485. Agricultural workers will receive a P40 daily increase.
Approximately 193,032 workers are expected to directly benefit from the adjustment, with an additional 300,252 full-time workers potentially receiving indirect benefits through upward wage adjustments.
Domestic workers, or "kasambahay," in Region VI will also see an increase in their monthly wage by P1,000, raising the total monthly salary to P6,000.
This change will impact an estimated 160,795 domestic workers, 31 percent of whom live within their employers' households.
The adjustment represents a 7 to 9 percent increase over previous wage levels, reflecting the government's commitment to bolstering worker livelihoods across the region.
Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) remain exempt from the minimum wage law under Republic Act No. 9178, and retail or service establishments with fewer than 10 employees or those impacted by disasters may apply for exemptions.
The previous minimum wage adjustment for Region VI took effect in November 2023.