BARMM Approves P50 Daily Minimum Wage Hike

COTABATO CITY—The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RTWPB-BARMM) has approved a P50 increase in the daily minimum wage for private sector workers. Labor Minister Muslimin Sema said the wage adjustment, approved after a series of public consultations, “is reflective of the region’s improving economy, where gains should be shared with its labor force.” “I fully understand, together with the (wage) board members, that our workers must be taken care of,” he said during a press briefing on Wednesday. The wage increase will be implemented in two tranches—P25 in August and another P25 in December—and is expected to benefit at least 500,000 minimum wage earners across the region. BARMM comprises the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi; the cities of Cotabato, Marawi, and Lamitan; and the eight municipalities under the Special Geographic Area (SGA). Under the first tranche, the daily minimum wage for nonagricultural workers will increase to P436 from P411, while workers in the agricultural and retail sectors will receive P411 from P386. In the SGA, nonagricultural workers will receive P416 per day, up from P391, while those in the agricultural and retail sectors will receive P391, up from P366. Information source: Inquirer NewsInfo