• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The monthly salary of domestic workers (kasambahays) in Negros Oriental and Siquijor, including Cebu and Bohol, will increase to P7,500, the Department of Labor and Employment said Sept. 29.
The P500 increase, from the current P7,000, will take effect on Oct. 14, following the approval of Wage Order No. ROVII-DW-06 by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Central Visayas.
The monthly minimum wage hike for domestic workers followed an earlier approval of a P42 increase in the daily minimum salary of private sector workers in the region that will also take effect on Oct. 14.
This means that private sector employees in Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Bohol, classified as class B, will start receiving P542 a day next month, and P582 for employees in the cities and towns of Cebu classified as class A.
The new wage rates should also be reflected in the workers’ applicable benefits, including 13th-month pay and contributions to the Social Security System, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG, the DOLE said in an advisory.
Negros Oriental and Siquijor are still under the Central Visayas RTWPB since the Wage Board for the Negros Island Region has yet to be established.
Meanwhile, the public hearings on minimum wage adjustment for employees in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, under the RTWPB Western Visayas, will start on Oct. 6 at Citadines in the city.
On Oct. 7, the public hearing for workers in the sugar industry, including sugarcane planters and farm workers in Negros Occidental and Panay will be held, also at Citadines; while that of kasambahays in Negros Occidental and Panay is set on Oct. 9 in Iloilo City. Those who intend to participate should confirm their attendance via https://bit.ly/rb62026publichearing, the RTWPB6 said in an advisory, adding that position papers may also be submitted until Oct. 5 through rtwpb6@yahoo.com. | CGC
