City of San Fernando, PAMPANGA – After its public hearing on February 25 and wage deliberation on March 4, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – III (RTWPB-III) approved the new minimum wage rate of domestic workers or kasambahaysin the region.
Under the latest wage order for domestic workers or Wage Order No. RBIII-DW-04, domestic workers earning minimum wage in Chartered Cities and First-Class Municipalities will receive an additional ₱1,000 to their monthly wages while those in remaining municipalities will receive an increase of ₱1,500 per month.
Starting April 1, the minimum monthly wage of domestic workers in Central Luzon is ₱6,000 regardless of city or municipal class category. According to DOLE Regional Director and RTWPB-III Chairperson Geraldine Panlilio, the regional wage board has been studying and closely monitoring the socio-economic status in the region to determine if there is a need to raise the minimum wage of the domestic workers.
“It was determined during the comprehensive research study conducted by the Regional Wage Board on the Araw ng mga Kasambahay and the public hearing attended by domestic workers and employers from the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Pampanga,” Panlilio shared.
“Both kasambahays and employers alike see that there is indeed a need to increase the minimum wage of the domestic workers in the region. All factors were considered— the existing socio economic condition in the region, the needs of the domestic workers and their families, as well as the capacity of the employers to pay,” she added.
Meanwhile, RTWPB – III OIC Board Secretary Kenneth Liza shared that the result from the research conducted by the Wage Board played a crucial role in the wage deliberation process as it served as the ‘voice of both the domestic workers and employers’.
“The secretariat thoroughly processed and reviewed the inputs gathered and considered the issues that emerged during the public hearing. The RTWPB-III, through motu proprio, released and approved a new wage order for the Kasambahays which shall take effect on April 1, Monday, fifteen days after its publication,” Liza explained.
The wage increase for Kasambahays is expected to benefit a total of 126,762 domestic workers where approximately 9% (11,595) are on live-in arrangement.
In addition, Panlilio also reminded all employers to adhere to existing labor laws in compensating domestic workers. “It is mandated by law that employers must ensure that domestic works receive their rightful entitlements, including fair compensation and mandated benefits. Non-compliance not only undermines the integrity our labor regulations but also perpetuates injustice against vulnerable workers. I encourage everyone to uphold the principle of fairness and equity in our treatment of all workers within our community,” Panlilio emphasized.
In accordance with existing laws and procedures, the wage order was submitted to the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) for review and was affirmed on 12 March 2024.
