Caraga workers get pay hike

MANILA, Philippines - The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) yesterday reported that workers in the CARAGA region received an increase in their daily take home pay last Friday.

“Effective Nov. 11, minimum wage earners in CARAGA will get an P11 increase in their basic wage and another P4 additional cost of living allowance in their daily wage rate,” the NWPC said.

 The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in CARAGA approved the wage increase last October after a thorough evaluation of the socio-economic factors in the region.

The wage increase will cover minimum wage earners in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and the Dinagat Islands.            

But to sustain rising levels of wages and enhance business competitiveness, the RTWPB urged both labor and management to adopt productivity improvement schemes to improve the quality of life of workers and enable them earn more.

 With the wage increase, the daily minimum wage rate for agricultural workers in plantations in the region is pegged at P248 and P228 for non-plantation workers.

For non-agricultural workers, the daily minimum wage rate is P258 and P228 for retail and service companies employing 10 or less. Those employed in companies with more than 10 workers will get a P258 daily pay.