Metro workers to get wage hike

MANILA, Philippines - Workers in Metro Manila are getting a much-awaited increase, an official said yesterday.

Nelson Hornilla, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) chairman, said the board has approved a new wage order granting a pay hike for minimum wage earners in the region.

The wage order will take effect 15 days after publication in a newspaper of national circulation.

Under the new order, minimum wage earners shall receive an additional P10 cost of living allowance in their daily take home pay while the previous P15 COLA shall be integrated to the basic pay.

Upon the effectivity of the new wage order, Hornilla said, workers in the agricultural, manufacturing and retail sectors will receive a minimum of P454 daily pay and those from non-agricultural sector shall get P491.

Hornilla said the board approved the wage order to augment the workers’ income, which has eroded over the past months.

“After thorough evaluation of the existing socio-economic condition, the board has determined that the existing minimum wage rate of P481 has been eroded by the amount of P1.82 a day and the poverty threshold has increased to P295,” Hornilla said.

The wage board noted that the new wage rates shall cover normal working hours, not exceeding eight hours.