KIDAPAWAN CITY(MindaNews / 21 April) — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Region 12 announced on Saturdaythat the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) has approved a proposal to increase by 16 to 18 pesos the daily wage for workers in the private sector.
Sisinio Cano, DOLE-12 regional director, said that based on the approved salary hike, those earning P270 per day in the agriculture, retail and service business will receive an increase of P18 per day or a totalof P298 daily wage.
Workers in non-agriculture business with P295 daily salary will receive a hike of P16 per day or a total of P311 daily wage, Cano explained.
Region 12 or Southwestern Mindanao comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Kidapawan, Tacurong and Cotbato, also collectively known as Soccsksargen.
Cano added the salary hike will be submitted to the central office for final approval before it is posted or published in a newspaper with regional circulation.
“This is good news for our workers in the private sector. We are just following what the national government under President Duterte wants us to do,” said Cano.
As to its implementation, senior labor officers and staff in each province in Region 12 will see to it the companies abide by the law.
“If there are those that fail to follow the law, rest assured they will face consequences,” he stressed. (Malu Cadelina Manar / MindaNews)