The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) XI is set to conduct public hearings for the review of Wage Order No. RB XI-18 on October 17 and 18 from 1 pm to 5 pm at Tagum City and Davao City respectively.

The public hearing on October 17 will be at Molave Hotel in Tagum City to cover areas of Tagum City, Panabo City, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental; and on October 18 at The Apo View Hotel in Davao City to cover the areas of Davao City, Island Garden City of Samal, Digos City, Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental.

Initially, the hearings were scheduled on October 10 and 11 but was further moved in order to provide additional time for all sectors to submit their comments/position papers.

This new schedule was also published in a local newspaper on Thursday, September 29, 2016.

The notice was issued by Department of Labor and Employment XI Regional Director and RTWPB XI Chairman Joffrey M. Suyao.

“We are encouraging and inviting all of our stakeholders to take part in the upcoming public hearings as this is also an opportunity for them to provide their position on all forms of petitions, verbal or written on the wage rates here in the region,” Director Suyao said.

Parties interested may submit or present their comments/position papers relative to the on-going review of the Wage Order with the Regional Board on or before the scheduled date of public hearing.

Wage Order No. RB XI-18 sets the current minimum wage of Davao Region which is at P317 for non-agriculture and P307 for agriculture sector with P5 as the new cost of living allowance (COLA) effective December 1, 2014. The wage order also sets that a minimum wage of P317 will be observed for those employing more than 10 workers and P286 for those not more than 10 workers.

Kriztja Marae G. Labrador/LCO-DOLEXI