MANILA - Private sector workers in the Western Visayas Region can expect a wage hike by the middle of November, the Department of Labor said on Tuesday.

DOLE said the Western Visayas regional wage board has approved a P33-P40 daily wage increase for private sector workers in the region.

"This brings the daily minimum wage rates in the region to a range of P485 - P513 in the non-agriculture sector and P480 in the agriculture sector," DOLE said.

For non-agriculture workers in commercial or industrial businesses employing more than 10 workers, the approved wage hike is P33, which will bring the minimum wage for the sector to P513 from P480.

Workers in businesses employing 10 workers or less meanwhile will get a P35 hike, which will bring their daily wage to P485 from P450.

Agricultural workers meanwhile will get a P40 hike which will bring their daily wage to P480 from P440.

A P1,000 monthly increase for kasambahays in the region was likewise approved, bringing the monthly minimum wage to P6,000.

The wage orders will be published on Nov. 1, and will take effect on Nov. 17.

The new rates for workers in the private sector translate to a 7 to 9 percent increase from the prevailing daily minimum wage rates in the region. It is expected to directly benefit 193,032 minimum wage earners. About 300,252 full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage may also indirectly benefit as a result of upward adjustments at the enterprise level arising from the correction of wage distortion. The wage increase for kasambahays is also expected to benefit a total of 160,795 domestic workers.