By Mariela Angella Oladive
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6 has urged employers in Western Visayas to comply with the recently implemented daily wage increase for private sector workers, warning that failure to do so could result in legal consequences.
Under Wage Order No. RBVI-28, non-agricultural workers in establishments with more than 10 employees will receive a PHP 33 daily wage increase, bringing their minimum daily wage to PHP 513.
For businesses with 10 or fewer workers, the increase is PHP 35, raising their daily minimum wage to PHP 485.
Agricultural workers will see a PHP 40 increase, setting their daily minimum wage at PHP 480.
The adjustments, which took effect on November 17, are intended to help workers cope with rising inflation.
Regional Director Atty. Sixto Rodriguez, who chairs the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), said employers are being given a brief adjustment period to voluntarily comply with the new rates.
He noted, however, that DOLE will investigate once complaints are filed.
“We’re providing room for employers to adjust and voluntarily implement the increase.
As of now, no complaints have been reported since the wage order is still in its early implementation stage,” Rodriguez said in an interview on November 27.
Meanwhile, Wage Order No. RBVI-DW-06, issued under Republic Act No. 10361 (Domestic Workers Act), mandates a PHP 1,000 monthly increase for domestic workers, or kasambahays, raising their minimum monthly wage from PHP 5,000 to PHP 6,000.
The wage adjustments were finalized after consultations in Iloilo City and Bacolod City and were based on criteria outlined in the Wage Rationalization Act (RA 6727).
Approximately 193,000 minimum wage earners and 160,000 domestic workers are expected to benefit from the increases.
DOLE has encouraged employees to report any non-compliance through its field offices, hotline, or email.
Rodriguez stressed the importance of employers adhering to the new wage order to promote fair labor practices.
“Should an employer fail to present valid reasons for not implementing the increase, they may face complaints for non-implementation of the wage order or non-payment of employee wages,” he said.
He also noted that while most employers complied during the last wage increase, DOLE still received complaints from employees regarding violations.
