Region I workers get pay hike on New Year

Minimum wage earners in Region 1 will get a raise starting January 25, the Department of Labor and Employment-Regional Office I today announced.  
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-1 has issued Wage Order RB1-19 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations granting P30 increase in the daily wages of workers in Large Non-Agriculture and Commercial Fishing Establishments. Workers in Medium Non-Agriculture Establishments will get P20 increase, while those in Small and Micro Establishments and
Agriculture (Plantation and Non-plantation) will receive P13 per day.  The said wage order will take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation on January 10-16, 2017. 
RTWPB-1 Chair and DOLE-RO I Regional Director Nathaniel V. Lacambra said the new wage hike will cover all workers or employees in the private sector receiving the minimum wage rates irrespective
of their positions, designations or status of employment and regardless of the method by which their wages are paid. 

Excluded from the order, however, are kasambahay or domestic workers; persons employed in the personal service of another including family drivers; and workers and employees of registered
Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE) with Certificates of Authority pursuant to Republic Act 9178, as amended. 
“The Board has thought that the new wage adjustments will help set off the anticipated effects of price hikes on
the living conditions of our minimum wage earners starting this year,” Director
Lacambra said. 
Under the existing Wage Order RB1-18,the daily minimum wage rates range from P243 to P280, depending on the type of industry. 
He said the Board, in crafting the new wage order, considered the prevailing socio-economic
conditions of the region as well as the viability of various businesses. 
Public Consultations on the wage issue were conducted on October 23, 26 and 27, 2017 in Pangasinan,
La Union and Ilocos provinces, respectively, to gather the positions of both the labor and management sectors.
The RTWPB-I is composed of the following: Regional Director Nathaniel V. Lacambra, Chairperson; DTI Regional Director Florante O. Leal and NEDA Regional Director
Nestor G. Rillon, Vice-Chairpersons representing the government sector; Jerry

1. Parlan and Salvador R. Poserio representing the management sector; and Eliseo P. Flora and Catherine Q. Pangan representing the labor sector.