The Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB) has approved the wage increase petition in four regions in Mindanao, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) reported on Tuesday.

The wage petitions in Regions 10 (Northern Mindanao), Caraga Region, Region 11 (Davao), and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have already been approved by their respected RTWPBs.

The wage order would take effect 15 days after the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) affirms and publishes it on national newspapers.

The RTWPBs approved the following: The integration of a P12 cost of living allowance (COLA) to a P13 increase in basic minimum wage per day in Region 10; the integration of a R10 COLA to a P10 increase in basic minimum wage per day in Caraga Region; a P21 increase in basic minimum wage per day in Region 11; and a P12 increase in basic minimum wage per day in ARMM.

In Region 10, the RTWPB approved of the following changes: The wage of the workers in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and the municipalities of Tagoloan, Villanueva, and Jasan will increase from P256 to P269 (non-agriculture) and from P244 to P257 (agriculture); in the cities of Malayba, Valencia, Gingoog, El Salvador and Ozamis and the municipalities of Maramag, Quezon, and Manolo Fortrich will be from P251 to P264 (non-agriculture) and from P239 to P252 (agriculture); in the cities of Oroquieta and Tangub will be from P246 to P259 and from P233 to P247 (agriculture).

In Region 11, the wage for non-agriculture workers will increase from P265 to P286, for those in the agriculture sector from P255 to P256; for those in retail/service industry with more than 10 workers from P265 to P286; and for those with less than 10 workers from P234 to P255.

In the Caraga region, the wage for non-agriculture workers will increase from P233 to P243; for those in the agriculture sector from P223 to P233 (plantation) and from P213 to P233 (non-plantation); for those in retail/service industry with more than 10 workers from P233 to P243; and for those with less than 10 workers from P234 to P255.

Meanwhile in ARMM, all workers regardless position or status will have wage hike from P210 to P222 per day.

The four petitions are part of the eight remaining wage petitions filed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) before the wage boards.

The NWPC have earlier approved the P22 wage increase in the National Capital Region (NCR) and P15 in Region 6. Among the wage petitions filed by TUCP that are still pending at their respected RTWPB are Region 3, Region 4-A, Region 4-B, Region 7 and Region 9.

Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, during Friday’s press conference, said companies who would not comply with the wage order would be sanctioned through a double indemnity scheme, whereby their workers would be paid twice of the approved wage increase.

However, some companies who would fall under the NWPC’s criteria may file for a one-year exemption from the wage order.

Meanwhile, despite the approved P22 wage increase in NCR, TUCP are planning to file for motion of reconsideration at the NWPC after it denied the labor groups’ appeal to approve its original P75 wage petition last Friday.