By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Region 6 (RTWPB-6) is considering a salary increase of at least P30 for minimum wage earners in private establishments.
“We have to determine what is reasonable but should not be lower than what has been granted by other regions. Based on the data, the base is really P30,” said Department of Labor and Employment Regional Director Sixto Rodriguez Jr., who is also the chairperson of RTWPB-6.
Rodriguez made the statement following a public hearing on proposed minimum wage adjustments among stakeholders in Panay Island on Thursday, Oct. 10.
During the hearing, labor groups pushed for a P150 increase, while employers preferred a more minimal increase to avoid significant business impacts.
“The labor groups want a P150 increase, but some groups are willing to settle for a lower amount. Employers did not oppose the increase but want it to be minimal,” Rodriguez said.
He added that other regions had issued wage orders with significant increases, which RTWPB-6 is also considering as a benchmark for the salary hike.
“Region 3 issued a wage order with increases ranging from P50 upward. Region 7 also had a considerable increase, so more or less, our increase will not be far from Region 7,” he said.
In Region 7 (Central Visayas), the non-agriculture sector saw a P33 increase, bringing the daily minimum wage to P435. The agriculture sector and retail/service establishments also saw the same increase, setting their minimum wage at P425.
In Region 3 (Central Luzon), the non-agriculture sector experienced a P50 to P66 hike, raising the daily minimum wage to P550. The agriculture sector and retail/service establishments saw their daily wage rise to P520 and P540, respectively.
Employers from micro, small, and medium enterprises in Western Visayas have expressed verbal support for an increase comparable to that of Central Visayas.
“We will look at a wage increase that does not significantly affect businesses while considering the demands of employee groups,” Rodriguez said.
Another round of public hearings will be held in Bacolod City next week and in other parts of the region throughout October.
The final wage order is expected to be issued before the end of the year, likely after Nov. 16, according to Rodriguez.
Labor Groups Push for P150 Increase
The United Labor-Western Visayas, an alliance of labor groups, submitted a petition to RTWPB-6 on Oct. 2, calling for a P150 increase in the region’s daily minimum wage.
The current minimum wage for private workers in the region is P480, following a P30 increase implemented in November last year.
The coalition’s proposed P150 increase would bring the daily wage to P630, which they argued is justified given the rising cost of living and persistent inflation that has eroded workers’ purchasing power.
“The P480 daily minimum wage in Region VI can no longer meet the basic needs of workers and their families. The cost of basic commodities and services has significantly increased since the last wage order, not to mention recent fuel price hikes,” read the petition obtained by Daily Guardian.
The alliance further argued that the current wage, when adjusted for inflation, is equivalent to only P368, which is significantly below the regional poverty threshold of P13,800 for a family of five.
The petition also highlighted that workers are living in dire conditions, as the minimum wage falls far short of the estimated P1,206 daily living wage necessary for a family to live decently.
“The immediate increase of the minimum daily wage to P630 is just, proper, and reasonable, considering it represents only 52 percent of the daily family living wage needed,” they added.
According to economic think tank Ibon Foundation, as of September 2024, the family living wage for a family of five in Western Visayas is P1,024.
Ibon Foundation also reported a 53.1 percent gap between the current P480 daily nominal minimum wage and the actual living wage needed by private sector workers in the region.
