Minimum wage earners in the private sector in Metro Manila will receive an additional P21 per day in their basic wage starting October 5, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region announced yesterday.
The board approved Wage Order No. RB NCR-21 prescribing new wage levels for all minimum wage earners, and setting the minimum wage for the non-agricultural workers to P512 from P491.
Workers in the agriculture, retail/service establishments employing 15 workers or less, and manufacturing establishments regularly employing less than 10 workers will receive a new minimum wage rate of P475.
The wage board said the decision to increase the minimum wage in the region was arrived at with inputs from the various stakeholders from the workers and employers’ group and the government during the consultations and public hearings.
RTWPB-NCR considered the various criteria in setting the minimum wage under Republic Act 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act.
Domestic workers, persons in the personal service of another, and workers of duly registered Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) with Certificate of Authority are not covered by the new wage order.
Wage Order No. NCR-21 also states that all workers paid by result, including those who are paid on piecework, “takay,” “pakyaw,” or per task basis, shall be entitled to receive the prescribed minimum wage per eight hours of work per day, or a proportion thereof for working less than eight hours.
The new wage order allows exemption only for distressed establishments, retail/service establishments regularly employing not more than 10 workers, and establishments adversely affected by calamities such as natural and human-induced disasters.
Wage Order No. NCR-21 was published in the Philippine Star on September 20, 2017. (DOLE)
