Central Visayas Minimum Wage Rises by ₱42 for 337,476 Workers Starting October 14

 

CENTRAL VISAYAS — More than 337,000 private sector workers across Central Visayas are set to receive a daily minimum wage increase of ₱42 beginning October 14, following the approval of the region's latest wage order by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said the adjustment will benefit an estimated 337,476 workers in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. The new rates will vary depending on the area's wage classification.

Under the approved wage order, workers in Class A areas, including Metro Cebu, will receive a new daily minimum wage of ₱582. Meanwhile, employees in Class B areas covering Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor will have their minimum daily wage raised to ₱542.

Despite the approved adjustment, labor groups have expressed dissatisfaction with the amount, citing the continuing increase in the cost of living.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) criticized the ₱42 increase, arguing that it falls short of addressing the financial pressures faced by workers in the region.

TUCP spokesperson Carlos Miguel Oñate also questioned the disparity between the wage adjustments in Central Visayas and Metro Manila. He pointed out that the ₱42 increase in Central Visayas is equivalent to roughly two-thirds of the ₱60 wage hike granted to minimum wage earners in the capital.

The new wage rates will take effect on October 14, providing eligible private sector workers in Central Visayas with higher daily pay while leaving concerns over the adequacy of the adjustment unresolved.