Board OKs wage hike for Cordillera workers

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Private sector workers in the highland Cordillera region are getting a P20-P30 daily wage increase.

Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-Cordillera approved the wage hike on July 20 through Wage Order RB-CAR-19.

The increase will be added to the basic pay of minimum wage earners, not to the Cost of Living allowance.

RTWPB-Cordillera Secretary Augusto Aquillo added that an additional P6 a day was also decided for other monetary benefits for minimum wage earners like their 13th month pay, holiday pay, service incentive leave and premium pay.

Hence, minimum wage workers will get an additional P26-P36 daily, or wages of P326-P336 a day from a previous P270-P300.

Aquillo said the new wage rate does not apply to household help, workers in barangay micro-business enterprises and personal service providers like drivers.

The new wage hike in the Cordillera takes effect on August 5.