Davao: The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-XI (RTWPB-XI) has approved wage adjustments for minimum wage earners and kasambahay (domestic workers), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Department stated that the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) reviewed and affirmed Wage Order No. RB XI-24 and Wage Order No. RB XI-DW-04. These orders grant an increase of PHP20 to PHP30 for workers in the region and PHP500 for kasambahay, respectively.

Under Wage Order No. RB XI-24, the daily minimum wage rate will increase by PHP20 in the agriculture sector and PHP30 in the non-agriculture sector. The increase will be implemented in two tranches, with the first half upon the effectivity of the wage order and the second half on September 1, 2026.

Upon the implementation of all tranches, the daily minimum wages in the region will rise from PHP505 to PHP525 for the agriculture sector and from PHP510 to PHP540 for the non-agriculture sector. This equates to monthly wages of PHP13,693.75 and PHP14,085, respectively. The salary adjustment is expected to directly benefit an estimated 66,772 minimum wage earners.

Meanwhile, kasambahay in the Davao Region will receive monthly wage increases of PHP500 in chartered cities and first-class municipalities and PHP1,500 in other municipalities. This adjustment will raise the sector's monthly minimum wage rate in the region to PHP6,500, benefiting 64,111 domestic workers in both live-in and live-out arrangements.

The wage orders are set to take effect on March 13. Retail and service establishments regularly employing not more than 10 workers, and enterprises affected by natural calamities and/or human-induced disasters, may apply for exemption from the wage increase until May 11 of this year. Barangay Micro Business Enterprises with valid certificates of authority from the Department of Trade and Industry are not covered by the minimum wage law under Republic Act 9178.