• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Region VII is holding a public hearing on minimum wage adjustment and reclassification, with stakeholders from Negros Oriental and Siquijor urged to attend the forum on Sept. 3 at Bethel Guest House in Dumaguete City.
The RTWPB7 said those interested to attend the hearing should register at bit.ly/RB7PublicHearing, and may submit position papers at its office in Cebu City, or through email at rb7@produktiboatsahod.onmicrosoft.com, until Sept. 6.
RTWPB7 chairperson, Lilia Estillore, said other hearing schedules are on Aug. 20 at DepEd Ecotech Center in Cebu City; Aug. 28 at Balamban Municipal Hall in Balamban, Cebu; Aug. 30 at Capitancillo Cafe and Restaurant in Bogo City, Cebu; and on Sept. 4 at The MetroCentre Hotel and Convention Center in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
The public hearings shall be conducted to ensure that all sectors and parties who stand to be directly affected by the Board’s decision are given the widest opportunity to be heard, the RTWPB7 said in a statement.
It issued Wage Order No. ROVII-24, which provides for a minimum wage increase in Central Visayas, including Negros Oriental and Siquijor, effective Oct. 1, 2023, regardless of position, designation, or status, and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid.
For Class B cities like Dumaguete, Bais, Bayawan, Canlaon, Guihulngan, and Tanjay, all in Negros Oriental, as well as Toledo and Bogo in Cebu, and Tagbilaran in Bohol, the minimum daily wage is P430 in non-agriculture establishments, and P425 for agriculture and non-agriculture companies with less than 10 workers.
Private sector workers in Class A cities, including Cebu, Carcar, Danao, Lapu-lapu, Mandaue, Naga, and Talisay, and the municipalities of Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla, and San Fernando, or the so-called Expanded Cebu, each receive P468 daily minimum wage, and P458 for agriculture and establishments with less than 10 workers.
Non-agriculture employees in areas not covered under classes A and B, including all the 19 towns of Negros Oriental, six municipalities of Siquijor, 47 towns of Bohol, and the remaining areas of Cebu, are paid P420 daily minimum, and P415 for agriculture and establishments employing less than 10.
Effective May 11, 2024, the RTWPB7 also increased by P500 the monthly minimum salary of all kasambahays within Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, whether on a live-in or live-out arrangement.
For chartered and first-class cities, the monthly salary is P6,000; and P5,000 for domestic workers in all municipalities of Central Visayas. | CGC
