THE National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) affirmed the wage increase for domestic workers or “kasambahays” in Western Visayas.
This was confirmed by Wennie Sancho, labor representative to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-Western Visayas.
“We are just waiting for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to be signed by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III,” he said, adding that “but in principle, it is already good as approved.”
Sancho, also the secretary general of General Alliance of Workers Associations (Gawa), said the affirmation was made by the NWPC on April 12.
On March 27, RTWPB-Western Visayas approved Wage Order No. 3 providing a salary increase of P500 per month for “kasambahays” in the region.
Under which, all domestic workers are entitled to receive a monthly wage of P4,000.
It replaced Wage Order No. 2 which lapsed last December 8 and prescribed a monthly minimum wage rate of P3,500.
Under the previous order, the classification of “kasambahays” was removed. Meaning, all received the same wage rate regardless of whether they are working in cities or different classes of municipalities.
Previously, domestic workers in cities and first class municipalities are prescribed to receive P2,500 per month while those in other towns are entitled to have P2,000.
Though he has yet to confirm with the Wage Board Secretariat as to when the new order was published, Sancho said the publication normally comes after the affirmation of the NWPC.
He reiterated that the new Wage Order takes effect 15 days after publication. Thus, a salary increase for “kasambahays” is expected within the month.
Based on the computation of the labor sector, the supposed amount to be restored is P598 per month.
“So the P500 increase is fair enough,” Sancho earlier said, adding that P1,000 would be too high as demanded considering the recent drops in inflation.
For the labor sector, the salary hike will enhance the purchasing power of the “kasambahays” in the region.
It would somehow provide an economic relief to these workers, it added.