The Regional Tripartite Wages and
Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Calabarzon commenced public hearings
on the minimum wage adjustment for
kasambahays (domestic workers) in San
Pedro City, Laguna, on Tuesday, January 9.
According to lawyer Rio Ariel Soriano, secretary of RTWPB IV-A, the hearing
aims to gather insights from
workers, employers, and other
stakeholders on the minimum
wage for domestic workers,

which was last adjusted
two years ago.
Soriano stated that
it is high time for the
wage board to review
the current wage order,
emphasizing that the existing P4,000 to P5,000
minimum wage may no
longer be responsive to
the needs of domestic
workers in the region.
He added that the
active participation of
domestic workers in
public hearings and consultations is crucial for
determining the wage
increase.
“Bahagi ng
demokrasya na hindi natin pwede galawin basta-basata ang wage kung
walang partisipasyon
ng ating publiko lalo na
ang sektor ng ating mga
kasambahay. Kung tahimik ang mga kasambahay natin, sumusunod
yan na hindi gagalawin
ang wage order, kasi
walang clamor, walang
panawagan, walang adjustment,” Soriano emphasized.
He also stressed the
urgent need to make
the salary for domestic
workers competitive
with other regions to
prevent them from migrating to other areas,
especially to Metro Manila, which implemented a wage hike in November 2023.
“Ang goal natin is
that ‘wag na kayong
lumabas sa Calabarzon
dahil competitive din
naman ang sweldo natin. Huwag natin silang
hayaang mag-migrate
dahil talo sila in so far as
transport, logistics na
kailangan nilang magbiyahe, mga unquantifiable expenses gaya
ng pagod, hirap, layo sa
pamilya, talo sila doon,”
Soriano said.
Soriano expressed
hope that the series
of public hearings set
to roll out in different
parts of the region in the
coming weeks would be
as fruitful as the formal
sector’s wage hike last
year.
He said the proponents and stakeholders’ contributions led
to the approval and implementation of Wage
Order No. 20, which
set the formal sector’s
minimum wage at P385
to P520 — the highest
wage increase among
regions in the country.
“Isa ito sa magagandang accomplishments
ng Region 4A noong nakaraang taon. At umpisahan natin for this year
na ganoon ulit ang ating
tatahaking direksyon na
tayo ulit ang magsisilbing benchmark dito sa
Pilipinas pagdating sa
usapin ng batas kasambahay,” Soriano said.
Meanwhile, Laguna
Second District Representative Ruth Mariano
Hernandez also supports the move, stating
that the minimum wage
salary adjustments
would help domestic
workers cope with the
increasing cost of living.
“Mas maganda kung
magkakaroon ng wage
adjustments dahil yung
cost of living natin ay
medyo mataas na. Maganda ang pagbubukas
ng taong ito na nagkakaroon tayo ng ganitong
public consultation,”
said Hernandez.
“We want all of you
na talagang maging bahagi sa paggawa ng mahalagang polisiya at hakbang ng pamahalaan sa
usaping ito,” she added.
United Domestic
Workers of the Philippines (UDWP) appealed
to the wage board to
have an across-theboard salary for kasambahays regardless of the
area.
“Gusto po sana
namin na pangkalahatan na po dahil kung
anong pangangailangan
malapit sa NCR ganoon
din ang pangangailan sa
mga malapit na munciipalities, hindi po nagkakalayo,” said Myla of
UDWP Laguna Chapter.
The current minimum wage rate for
domestic workers in
Calabarzon is P5,000
for those in cities and
first-class municipalities, while individuals
employed in emerging-growth municipalities receive P4,000.
The RTWPB will
hold another public
hearing in Trece Martires City on Thursday,
January 11.
(PIA-CALABARZON)