BAGUIO CITY – Minimum daily wage earners and domestic workers got a timely Christmas present after the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) affirmed the new wage order issued by the Cordillera office of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-CAR) that granted a P40 daily minimum wage increase across all provinces in the region.
The region’s daily minimum wage in the Cordillera will now be P470 effective December 24, 2024 from the current P430 pursuant to an earlier wage order.
Likewise, the RTWPB-CAR issued a separate wage order that granted a P1,100 monthly increase for ‘kasambahays’ or domestic workers in the region bringing the sector’s monthly minimum wage from the current P4,900 to P6,000.
The separate wage orders will be published on December 8, 2024 and will take effect after 15 calendar days from the date of publication or on December 24, 2024.
The wage board stated that the new minimum wage rate shall be for the normal working hours which shall not exceed eight hours of work a day.
Further, the wage increase shall apply to all minimum wage earners in the private sector within the region, regardless of their position, designation or status and irrespective of the method by which shall not exceed eight hours of work daily.
The wage order explained that any person, corporate, trust, firm, partnership, association or entity, who refuses or fails to pay the prescribed increase shall be dealt with pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of Republic Act (RA) 6727 as amended by RA 8188.
According to the RTWPB-Car, upon prudent consideration of the positions of the workers sectors and employers’ sectors well as the prevailing minimum wage levels in neighboring regions and after thorough review and evaluation of the existing socio-economic conditions in the region, it was established that the gross regional domestic product of CAR improved in 2023 with a growth rate of 6.9 percent; based on the current consumer price index in the region, the average inflation rate from December 2023 up to September 2024 is 3.5 percent and the poverty threshold for a family of five based on the latest available data provided by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2023 amounts to P435 per day.
The sewage board is mandated under RA 6727 or the Wage Rationalization CT to periodically assess wage rates and conduct continuing studies in the determination of the minimum wage applicable in the region or industry.
Earlier, Wage Order No. CAR-22 took effect on December 5, 2023 that increased the region’s minimum wage from P350 to 380 and then P430 which is now the prevailing rate.
The board, upo deliberation during its meeting on August 29, 2024 motu proprio, decided to commence the minimum wage determination process and review the current minimum wage rates.
After due notice to all concerned stakeholders and publication of the notices of public hearings, the board conducted various consultations to determine the priority of issuing a new wage order, October 29, 2024 – Kalinga and Apayao; October 30, 2024 – Ifugao and Mountain Province; November 7, 2204 – Baguio City and Benguet and November 8, 2024 – Abra. By Dexter A. See
