Ang Pahayagan

PAMPANGA – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-3 (Central Luzon) has granted wage increases for daily minimum wage earners ranging from PHP50 to PHP80 while a PHP500 adjustment has also been approved for domestic workers or “kasambahay,” the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

In a social media post, the RTWPB-3 through Wage Order No. Regional Board III-26 said the increase will be given to non-agriculture workers in two tranches — the first tranche amounting to PHP20 will be effective Oct. 30, while the next PHP20 will be effective April 16, 2026.

In total, the minimum wage of workers will be PHP600.

For workers in the agriculture sector, an increase of PHP20 will also be effective on Oct. 30, while the second tranche amounting to PHP30 will be given on April 16, 2026.

The minimum wage will be PHP570 after the effectivity of the final tranche.

Retail/service workers will have an increase of PHP20 in the first tranche and an additional PHP50 for the second tranche. Upon effectivity, workers will be receiving PHP590 a day.

The said wage adjustments cover workers in six provinces, namely, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

The current minimum wages in the region are PHP550 for non-agriculture, PHP520 for agriculture and PHP540 for retail and/service.

In Aurora, non-agricultural workers will be receiving an additional PHP60, with the first tranche of PHP20 to be given Oct. 30, and PHP20 for the second tranche effective April 16, 2026. The new minimum wage in the province will be PHP560.

For agricultural workers, an additional PHP30 will be given on Oct. 30 and another PHP30 on April 16, 2026. The new daily wage will be at PHP545.

The minimum wage of workers in retail/service will be PHP515 after the addition of PHP40 each from the first and second tranches.

The present take-home pay of non-agriculture workers in Aurora is PHP500, PHP485 for agriculture workers, and PHP435 for retail/service workers.

Meanwhile, an additional PHP500 was approved by the RTWPB-3 for domestic workers through RBIII-DW-05, making their monthly salary PHP6,500.

Both orders were approved on Sept. 16.

The order said the raise will cover all domestic workers, whether on a live-in or live-out arrangement, such as but not limited to: general househelp, nanny, cook, gardener, laundry person, and any person who regularly performs domestic work in one household on an occupational basis.

On the other hand, those not covered by the wage increase are service providers, family drivers and any other person who performs work occasionally or sporadically and not on an occupational basis. (PNA)