Western Visayas Wage Hike Effective November 17

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Western Visayas confirmed on Nov. 4 that the latest regional wage increase will take effect on Nov. 17, 2024.

DOLE-Western Visayas Regional Director Sixto Rodriguez, who also chairs the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), told Bombo Radyo Iloilo on Monday that no legal impediments remain to prevent the upcoming wage hike.

This confirmation followed formal notification from the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), DOLE’s central agency, approving the wage orders issued by the RTWPB.

Wage Order Nos. RBVI-28 and RBVI-DW-06 were published in the Nov. 1-3, 2024, issue of Daily Guardian.

The first wage order applies to agricultural and non-agricultural workers. Non-agricultural workers will receive an increase of PHP33 for employers with more than 10 workers and PHP35 for those with fewer than 10. Agricultural workers will see a PHP40 increase.

These adjustments bring daily wages to PHP513 for non-agricultural workers with more than 10 employees, PHP485 for those with fewer than 10, and PHP480 for agricultural workers.

The second wage order applies only to domestic workers, also known as kasambahays, under Republic Act No. 10361 (Domestic Workers Act). Their monthly wage will increase by PHP1,000, from PHP5,000 to PHP6,000.

The RTWPB conducted two consultation hearings for these wage orders on Oct. 10 and 21 in Iloilo City and Bacolod City, respectively. Both orders were initially approved by the Board on Oct. 22.

Workers’ groups have previously advocated for a PHP150 wage increase, citing a weakened peso and ongoing inflation.