HOUSEHOLD service workers (HSWs) in Western Visayas will be enjoying an additional income next month.
This comes with the implementation of the new wage order issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-Region 6 (RTWPB-Region 6) granting Western Visayas HSWs a P500 wage hike.
The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) said the wage order will take effect on May 8 after being published on April 23, 2019.
“Upon effectivity of this Wage Order, the new monthly minimum-wage rates of domestic workers in the region, covering the Provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental, including their respective component cities and the highly urbanized City of Iloilo and Bacolod, shall be P4,000,” RTWPB-Region 6 said in its new issuance.
The new rate was the result of the RTWPB-Region 6’s two public hearings conducted in February.
Prior to the new wage order, the minimum wage for HSWs in cities and first-class municipalities in Region 6 was P3,500, while those in other municipalities was pegged at P3,000.
RTWPB-Region 6 approved the wage hike to allow HSWs within its jurisdiction to cope with the rising cost of living.
The new minimum-wage rate will cover any person who regularly performs domestic work in one house on an occupational basis like general househelp, yaya, cook, gardener and laundry person.
However, it will not apply for persons who perform work occasionally or sporadically and not an occupational basis, such as service providers; family drivers; and children under foster family arrangement.