MANILA, Philippines – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) of the Ilocos Region granted a P33 daily minimum wage hike across all sectors, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Monday, October 21.
In the regional board’s Wage Order No. RB 1-23 issued October 9, daily minimum wages increased to P468 for the non-agriculture establishments employing 10 or more employees, and P435 for agriculture workers, as well as non-agriculture establishments employing fewer than 10 employees.
The new minimum wages will take effect on November 7.
The new rates for workers represent an 8% increase from the prevailing minimum wages in the region. Around 170,143 minimum wage earners are expected to directly benefit from it, while around 349,112 full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum may also indirectly benefit from upward adjustments.
The RTWPB also issued Wage Order No. RB 1-DW-05, which increased the monthly minimum wage of domestic workers by P500. From P5,500, the new monthly minimum is P6,000 in Ilocos.
Over 99,000 domestic workers are expected to benefit from the wage increase — approximately 9% of whom live in their employer’s household.
The last wage orders for Ilocos minimum wage earners were issued in October 2023.
The increases come as the regional wage boards comply with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order last Labor Day, May 1, to review minimum wages within 60 days before the anniversary of their last wage order. Calabarzon and Central Visayas raised minimum wages in September.
The labor sector has continued its campaign for the across-the-board legislated minimum wage increase pending in Congress, with proposals ranging from P100 to P750. The version mandating a P100 increase has passed the Senate, while the House labor committee is still in the process of deliberations. – Rappler.com