THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Negros Occidental is reminding employers in the province of the P500 monthly wage increase for domestic workers or "kasambahays" in Western Visayas effective today, May 8.
Mary Agnes Capigon, head of Dole-Negros Occidental, said though they have yet to receive a copy of the new wage order, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-Western Visayas Secretariat has informed them of its effectivity.
Wage Order 3, which was approved by the RTWPB-Western Visayas last March 27, provides 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 2, which lapsed last December 8 and prescribed a monthly minimum wage rate of P3,500.
"We want voluntary compliance on the part of the employers," Capigon said, adding that Dole-Negros Occidental will work on disseminating information about the wage increase.
Under the previous order, the classification of "kasambahays" was removed.
This means that all domestic workers 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.
Capigon said the agency is open to complaints and reports on non-compliance among employers in the province.
If there are issues and concerns, Dole-Negros Occidental will facilitate conciliation, Capigon said.
"Through our single entry approach program, we call both parties and come up with a solution," she added.
Wennie Sancho, labor representative to the RTWPB-Western Visayas, earlier said that based on the computation of the labor sector, the supposed amount to be restored is P598 per month.
Sancho said the P500 increase is fair enough, and 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, he added.