AFTER almost a year and a half, Caraga minimum wage earners are finally set to get salary adjustments.
According to the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) – Caraga has already issued a wage order granting pay increases to workers in the region.
Based on Wage Order No. RXIII-16, the wage board ordered the integration of the existing Cost of Living Allowance (Cola), amounting to P15, into the basic wage; and the provision of P15 per day as the new Cola.
This means that the new daily minimum wage rate in Caraga, for both agricultural and non-agricultural workers, is P320, inclusive of the P15 new Cola.
The NWPC noted that the new wage order in Caraga will take effect on May 1.
It was back on April 2 when the Caraga wage board issued the wage order.
It comes nearly a year and a half since the last wage order took effect on December 08, 2017.
Last year, Caraga became the sole region in the country, where a wage order was not issued.
Covered by the wage order are those in the Provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Island, and the Cities of Butuan, Surigao, Bislig, Cabadbaran, Bayugan and Tandag.
In a related development, the NWPC also bared that domestic workers in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are also set to get a pay increase.
This after the RTWPB - CAR issued Wage Order No. CAR-DW-03.
In the wage order, a pay increase of P1,000 is given to those in cities and first class municipalities; and P500 in other municipalities.
This means that domestic workers in cities and first class municipalities will get no less than P4,000 per month; while those in other municipalities must get nothing lower than P3,000 monthly.
Wage Order No. CAR-DW-03 is also set to take effect on May 1.
Covered by the CAR wage order are the Provinces of Mt. Province, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Apayao and the City of Baguio. (HDT/ SunStar Philippines)