By Mike Crismundo
BUTUAN CITY – Workers in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region will have all the reasons to be happy this May 1 Labor Day celebration on Wednesday, following the approval of the increase in the daily minimum wage to P320.
Caraga Region is composed of the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Island, and the cities of Butuan, Surigao, Bislig, Cabadbaran, Bayugan and Tandag.
The good news of pay hike was jointly announced by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE 13) Regional Director Chona M. Mantilla and Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) chief and board secretary Earl Dela Victoria on Monday.
The officials said the RTWPB approved a new wage order, granting an increase in the basic pay and in the cost of living allowance (COLA) for minimum wage earners.
RTWPB chief Dela Victoria told The Manila Bulletin on Monday that the board has approved P320 as the total daily minimum wage of workers.
He said the wage board approved the daily minimum wage from P280 to P305, while COLA was also increased by P15 pesos for the P320-total new daily minimum wage.
The amount will apply to minimum wage earners in all classes in northeastern Mindanao, they said.
They said the wage adjustment will be implemented in time with the Labor Day celebration on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Dela Victoria said, in a separate interview that the board approved the adjustment of the minimum wage rates after considering various conditions- the needs of the workers, the capacity of the employers to pay and competitiveness of the region that warranted an increase.
“Our workers in this region will be enjoying this Labor Day celebration because of this approved daily minimum wage increase,” he added.