The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has approved a new wage order raising the daily pay of private sector workers by PHP50 starting next month, officials said on Friday.

In a statement, BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua said he approved the Wage Order No. BARMM-04 on Thursday, which will take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of regional circulation.

“This PHP50 increase in the daily minimum wage reflects a deep understanding of the needs of our workers while considering the realities faced by our employers,” Macacua said.

Minister Muslimin Sema of BARMM’s Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), also chair of the Bangsamoro Tripartite Wages Productivity Board (BTWPB), said the wage order will be implemented regionwide, except for workers exempted by law, such as domestic workers and those in registered microenterprises.

“The signing of the new wage order reflects the gains of the peace process,” said Sema, who also concurrently chairs the Moro National Liberation Front Central Committee.

Macacua, together with the BTWPB members, signed the wage order during ceremonies held at the MOLE-BARMM regional office in this city on Thursday.

Sema said the pay hike is a response to the rising cost of living, inflationary pressures, and continued calls from workers’ groups for a more livable wage.

In this city, the wages of non-agricultural workers will increase from PHP361 to PHP411, while workers in the agricultural sector, including those in plantations, non-plantation, and retail, will now earn PHP386, up from PHP336.

For workers in Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan, the new minimum wage for non-agricultural workers will be PHP386, up from PHP336. Agricultural workers will see a daily wage increase from PHP326 to PHP376.

Additionally, workers in the BARMM Special Geographic Areas (SGA) will see a minimum wage increase from PHP341 to PHP391 for non-agricultural workers. Those in the agricultural and retail sectors will have a daily pay of PHP366, up from the previous PHP316.

Wage Order No. BARMM-04, developed through consultations, socioeconomic assessments, and BTWPB deliberations, follows Wage Order No. BARMM-03, which increased pay by PHP20 in 2024. (PNA)