CLARK FREEPORT -- The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Central Luzon has reminded employers in the region to comply with the newly issued wage order for minimum wage earners effective January 1, 2020.
Dole regional chief and chairwoman of the Regional Wage Board Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita said the salary increase is based on Wage Order RBIII-22, which grants a P20 increase per day to the existing minimum wage in Central Luzon.
"The new rate that is effective on the first day of 2020 applies to all minimum wage earners in the private sector regardless of position, employment status, and how their wages are paid," Campita said.
Under Wage Order RBIII-22, the prevailing minimum wage for non-agricultural establishments employing 10 or more workers in the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales will increase from P400 to P420 per day, while those with less than 10 workers shall pay their employees at least P413 daily.
In the province of Aurora, workers in the non-agricultural sector will receive a minimum daily salary of P369 from the previous rate of P349.
For the agricultural sector in Central Luzon except Aurora, P390 and P374 are the new minimum rates for plantation and non-plantation, respectively.
Workers in plantation and non-plantation in Aurora will receive at least P354 and P342, respectively.
Upon effectivity of the new wage order, retail service employees in Aurora will receive P304 daily at the minimum. In other provinces, P409 and P395 will be applied for establishments with 10 or more workers and establishments with less than 10 workers, respectively.
Campita said these adjustments are agreed by members of the wage board, which is composed of heads from the Department of Trade and Industry regional office and National Economic Development Administration-Central Luzon, as well as labor and management representatives.
"The board did its best to balance both the interest of workers and employers. The additional take home pay of workers is in response to inflation and rising cost of living without, of course, impeding the growth of businesses," Campita said.
Those who are not covered in the wage order hike are household or domestic helpers and persons employed in the personal service of another, and workers of Barangay Micro Business Enterprises with Certificate of Authority, pursuant to Republic Act 9178.
After the affirmation from the National Wages and Productivity Board (NWPC), Wage Order RBIII-22 was issued and published in SunStar Pampanga on December 17, 2019.
Wage Order RBIII-22 takes precedence over Wage Order RBIII-21, which took effect on August 1, 2018.