Central Luzon workers to get pay hike

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – Minimum wage earners in Central Luzon will get an increase in their daily take-home pay, the Regional Wages and Productivity Board (RWPB) announced on Wednesday.

Under Wage Order RB 3-19, workers in Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales will get a P15 wage hike.

“The P15 increase...shall be given in two tranches: P8…upon implementation of the order and P7 on May 1, 2016,” the RWPB said.

Workers in Aurora will get a P20 wage hike. They will receive the first tranche, or P10, upon the implementation of the order and the remaining P10 on May 1, 2016.

Anna Dione, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said the wage hike would peg the minimum wage in the region at P364. The amount is above the poverty threshold of P248 for a family of five.

The DOLE said the government wants the minimum wage to be above the poverty level before President Aquino steps down in June 2016.

Dione said the wage order applies to all minimum wage earners in the private sector regardless of position, designation, status of employment and methods by which the wages are paid.

She said only persons employed in personal service of another, including family drivers and house helpers are not covered by the wage order.

Dione said any person, corporation, firm, partnership, association or entity that refuses or fails to pay the prescribed rates shall be penalized under Republic Act 6727, or the Minimum Wage Fixing Law.