ORMOC CITY – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) are calling on all employers in Eastern Visayas to abide by the pay order pertaining to the effectiveness of the second tranche of salary increases beginning January 2, 2023.
According to Eastern Visayas Regional Director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Chairman of the RTWPB Henry John Jalbuena, employees are set to receive the 50 percent of the PHP 50.00 daily wage increase mandated by Wage Order No. 22 with the first tranche of the directive going into effect on June 27, 2022, after the RTWPB announced it on June 10 of that same year.
The said order mandates that the daily minimum wage for non-agricultural workers be increased to PHP 375.00 from PHP 350.00 specifically for those in retail and service firms with 11 or more employees.
On the one hand, the minimum wage for employees in the cottage and handicraft industries, the agricultural sector, and retail or service businesses with less than 10 employees is set at PHP 345.00 per day.
It can be recalled that it has been more than three years since the previous wage decree, which was issued in August 2019, went into effect.
The new order was issued by the RTWPB following consultations in the following cities: Ormoc City for the Western Leyte area, Tacloban City for the Leyte province, Borongan City for the Eastern Samar area, Maasin City for the Southern Leyte province, Naval for the Biliran province, Calbayog City for the Samar province, and Catarman for the Northern Samar province. The regional board in Eastern Visayas is a tripartite organization made up of six members: three from the government, two from the labor movement, and one from the employers’ camp. By Gwen Maurillo (EV Mail January 2-8, 2023 issue)
