Domestic workers, known as 'kasambahay', in the Zamboanga Peninsula will receive a significant pay raise starting May 20. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has announced a wage increase of P500 to P1,000 per month, benefiting nearly 19,000 workers in the region.
The new rates stem from Wage Order No. RIX-DW-06, issued by the Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-IX) on April 16. The order applies to all domestic workers, regardless of whether they live with their employers.
According to the new wage structure, the monthly minimum wage for kasambahay in chartered cities and first-class municipalities will rise from P5,500 to P6,000. In first-class municipalities of Sulu, the rate will increase from P5,000 to P6,000, while other municipalities in the province will see a hike from P5,000 to P5,500.
The DOLE estimates that around 18,984 domestic workers will benefit from this wage adjustment, with approximately 2,491 of them living in their employer's household.
This wage increase follows the last adjustment made on March 18 of the previous year, which took effect on April 3. The recent decision came after public hearings and surveys considered the needs of domestic workers, their families, and employers' financial capabilities.
To ensure compliance, the DOLE plans to conduct an information campaign throughout the Zamboanga Peninsula.