The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Zamboanga Peninsula or Region 9 announced that it has increased the daily minimum wages of workers working in the private sector by about P30 daily while the salary for the kasambahay was increased by about P600 monthly.

RTWPB-9 chairperson Albert Gutib disclosed that the RTWPB-9 had issued Wage Order numbers R9-22 and R9-DW-04, prescribing the minimum wage increase for workers working in the private sector to P381 daily while for the kasambahay is P4,600 effective on 12 November 2023.

Gutib — who also sits as director for the Department of Labor and Employment in Region 9 — admitted that the agency has not received any petition for a minimum wage adjustment filed by workers working in a private firm in the region.

However, he stressed that in the absence of any petition from workers working in the private sector, the RTWPB-9 Board may on motu proprio initiate a wage review pursuant to Section 3(A), Rule II of the Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Determination.

He added that the RTWPB-9 Board has reviewed and evaluated the existing socio-economic conditions of the region based on official data coming from the Philippine Statistics Authority before granting the wage increase to workers working in the private sector.

According to Gutib, effective 12 November 2023, non-agricultural establishments employing 31 workers or more will receive an increase of P30 to P381 per day, while those employing 10-30 workers shall receive an increase of P30 to P368 per day effectivity of the Wage Order and an additional increase of P13 to P381 per day starting 1 February 2024.

For agricultural establishments, they shall receive an increase of P30 per day upon effectivity of Wage Order Number R9-22.

Gutib further explained that the wage increase should apply to all minimum wage earners in the private sector within the region, regardless of their position, designation or status and the method by which their wages are paid.

Meanwhile, Gutib said that the wages for the kasambahays will be paid by their employer in cash at least once a month and no deductions shall be made other than those mandated by law.