Manila: 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.According to Philippines News Agency, BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua announced his approval of Wage Order No. BARMM-04 on Thursday. The new order will take effect 15 days after its publication in a regional newspaper. Macacua emphasized that the PHP50 increase in the daily minimum wage is a result of understanding the needs of workers while also considering the challenges faced by employers.Minister Muslimin Sema, head of BARMM's Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) and chair of the Bangsamoro Tripartite Wages Productivity Board (BTWPB), stated that the wage order will be implemented across the region, excluding workers exempted by law, such as domestic workers and those employed in registered microenterprises. Sema highlighted that the new wage order signifies progress achieved through the peace process.The wage order was signed by Macacua and BTWPB members during a ceremony at the MOLE-BARMM regional office. Sema attributed the pay hike to rising living costs, inflationary pressures, and demands from workers' groups for a more livable wage.In this city, non-agricultural workers will see their wages increase from PHP361 to PHP411, while agricultural workers, including those in plantations and retail, will earn PHP386, up from PHP336. In areas like Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan, non-agricultural workers will receive PHP386, an increase from PHP336, and agricultural workers will have a pay rise from PHP326 to PHP376.Furthermore, workers in the BARMM Special Geographic Areas (SGA) will experience a wage increase from PHP341 to PHP391 for non-agricultural roles. Those in the agricultural and retail sectors will see their daily wages rise to PHP366, up from PHP316. Wage Order No. BARMM-04 was developed throug h consultations, socioeconomic assessments, and BTWPB deliberations, succeeding Wage Order No. BARMM-03, which had increased wages by PHP20 in 2024.