THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has approved a P50 daily wage increase for private sector workers, effective next month. Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua signed Wage Order No. BARMM-04 on June 26, 2025, stating that the decision considers both the needs of workers and the capacity of employers.
The order, overseen by Labor Minister Muslimin Sema, who also heads the Bangsamoro Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (BTWPB), covers the entire region except for household workers and micro-enterprises, which are granted exemptions. “The signing of this wage order reflects the fruits of the peace process,” Sema stated.
The increase is a response to the impact of inflation and ongoing calls for a living wage. In Cotabato City, the daily wage for non-agricultural workers will rise from P361 to P411, while agricultural workers will receive P386 instead of P336.
In other provinces and cities within the BARMM, the daily wage for non-agricultural workers will be P386, and P376 for agricultural workers. In Special Geographic Areas (SGAs), the daily wage for non-agricultural workers will increase to P391, and to P366 for agricultural and retail workers (previously P316).
The wage order was developed through extensive consultations, socio-economic assessments, and deliberations by the BTWPB. The increase aims to provide much-needed relief to workers in the region while maintaining a balance with the economic capacity of businesses.
metrosundaily
