Minister of Labor and Employment (MOLE). Datu Muslimin Sema, along with the workers and employers’representatives, sign the Memorandum of Agreement for minimum wage increase in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 inside the Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC), Cotabato City. (Marhom Ibrahim/BIO)
COTABATO CITY— Private sector workers across BARMM will receive a P20 increase in their daily take-home pay following the approval of a new wage order by the Bangsamoro Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (BTWPB) on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
Wage Order No. BARMM-03 applies to non-agricultural workers employed in industry, manufacturing, construction, commerce, mining, and academia, while non-plantation and retail are part of the agricultural sector.
Under the said wage order, a new basic pay rate will be P336 from P316 for the non-agriculture sector, and P326 from P306 for the agriculture sector in all provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi.
On the other hand, workers in Cotabato City will receive a new daily minimum wage rate ranging from P341 to P361 for the non-agriculture sector, and from P316 to P336 for the agriculture sector.
The Special Geographic Area (SGA) status quo retains the P341 for the non-agriculture and P316 for agriculture minimum pays.
“Our employers have no problem with the wage increase. P20 is enough, considering the current price hike of necessities for both workers and employers,” said Atty. Anwar Malang of the BTWPB.
Before its approval, the BTWPB initiated deliberations on wage review and conducted public consultations to gather public sentiments, views, and opinions from both the labor and management sectors.
Meanwhile, Minister of Labor and Employment (MOLE) Datu Muslimin Sema said despite the challenges faced by business sectors, the government side and employers agreed and ventured about the increase of wage in order to address their concerns and support their needs.
“It took time for us to decide because while we see so much about the well-being of our workers, we are also equally worried about the status of employers who are suffering from the effects of rising oil and electricity prices,” he added.
Sema said the Government of the Day commended the private business sector for its unwavering support in improving the socio-economic status of the Bangsamoro people.
“The Bangsamoro Government, together with concerned stakeholders, will work hard to improve the condition of our people,” he emphasized.
The new wage order shall take effect fifteen days from its publication in at least one newspaper of general circulation in BARMM. (Johaira Sahidala/BIO)
