BUTUAN CITY, April 25 -- The Department of Labor and Employment in the Caraga Region (DOLE-13) on Thursday announced a PHP15 daily minimum wage increase in the private sector on May 1, coinciding with the Labor Day celebration.

DOLE-13 Director Joffrey Suyao, concurrent chair of the Regional Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-13), said the increase would raise the daily wages of private sector workers in the region from PHP370 to PHP385.

"Several extensive consultations and public hearings were conducted across the region before this daily wage increase was finalized and decided," Suyao said in a statement.

RTWPB-13 also considered several factors in determining the wage hike, he added, including employers' capacity to pay their emplo...