THE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Western Visayas is set to review the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the new wage order that will take effect starting tomorrow, November 27.
Wennie Sancho, labor representative of the RTWPB-Western Visayas, said the new wage order has yet to be signed by Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
Sancho, also the secretary general of the General Alliance of Workers Associations (Gawa), said the six members of the board are meeting in Bacolod City Wednesday, November 27, to check whether there are "revisions" made by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
"Through the meeting, we will also see if there's an opposition or appeal against the order," he said, adding that "if yes, we will submit the same to the NWPC."
Minimum wage earners in Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental, are set to receive P15 to P30 daily pay hike.
The effectivity is 15 days after the publication on November 11.
Under Wage Order 25, a P30 daily pay hike is provided for workers among non-agriculture, industrial and commercial establishments employing more than 10 employees.
From the current P350 plus cost of living allowance (Cola) of P15, totaling to P365 per day, the new rate would be P395.
Employees from establishments with less than 10 workers will get an
additional of P15, making the new wage rate P310 per day.
For the agricultural sector, plantation workers will receive a P20 increase. So from the current P295 per day, the new minimum wage rate under this sector is P315.
Sancho said, personally, he has not received any information that there was an opposition submitted by the management sector.
He reiterated though that the possible appeal could not restrain the implementation of the wage increase.