Photo credit: PIDS

Ready for a pay boost? Workers in SOCCSKSARGEN and Central Luzon are set to benefit from new minimum wage hikes, thanks to the latest wage orders issued by their respective Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs). Here’s a breakdown of what’s changing and when!

SOCCSKSARGEN's New Minimum Wage Rates

In SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII), the new wage order, RB XII-24, introduces a P27 to P48 increase across various sectors. This brings the minimum daily wage rates to P430 for the non-agriculture sector (including retail and service establishments) and P410 for the agriculture sector once all tranches are implemented.

Here's how the rates will change over time:

- Non-Agriculture Sector:
- Effective October 17, 2024: P417
- Effective January 1, 2025: P430

- Agriculture Sector:
- Effective October 17, 2024: P396
- Effective January 1, 2025: P410

Retail and service workers will also see incremental increases, starting at P396 and eventually reaching P430 by June 2025. 🎉

Central Luzon’s New Minimum Wage Rates

Over in Central Luzon, RTWPB-III has simplified the wage structure for the region’s main sectors: non-agriculture, agriculture, and retail/service establishments. The wage increase ranges from P50 to P66, resulting in the following daily rates after all tranches are applied:

- Non-Agriculture Sector:
- Effective October 17, 2024: P500 - P550(varies by province and business size)
- Effective April 16, 2025: P520 - P540

- Agriculture Sector:
- Effective October 17, 2024: P485 - P495
- Effective April 16, 2025: P520

- Retail and Service Sector:
- Effective October 17, 2024: P435 - P515
- Effective April 16, 2025: P435 - P540

In Aurora Province:
- Non-Agriculture: P475 (October 2024) to P500 (April 2025)
- Agriculture: P460 (October 2024) to P485 (April 2025)
- Retail/Service: P410 (October 2024) to P435 (April 2025)

So, what do these changes mean? Essentially, workers across various sectors in both regions can expect a steady increase in their take-home pay, reflecting efforts to keep up with inflation and the rising cost of living.