AMID criticisms from labor groups that the P20 wage adjustment in Central Visayas proposed by the Department of Labor and Employment in the region (DOLE-7) was not enough, DOLE-7 director Alvin Villamor clarified that the amount was not yet final.
Villamor said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Central Visayas (RTWPB – 7) will still meet on Monday, June 11, to discuss his proposal for a P20 wage increase.
“I proposed the number because I wanted to get them closer because P13, P14, P15 was proposed by the management (sector) while labor’s proposal reached P24. It was actually the mediator’s proposal,” Villamor, who sits as RTWPB – 7 chairperson, said in a phone interview.
Villamor explained that in coming up with the amount, he considered the conditions of minimum wage earners in the region as well as the employers capacity to pay their workers.
The existing minimum wage in the region is P366.
Aside from Villamor, the RTWPB-7 is composed of the regional directors of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-7) Efren Carreon and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) Asteria Caberte.
Jose Tomongha, chairman of the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) and Lawyer Ernesto Carreon of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) represent the labor groups; while, businessman Philip Tan represents the management sector.
Carreon said he initially proposed a P72 increase and then lowered it to P34 and later P25 just to get the board’s approval; but majority of the board still settled for a P20 increase.
“Of course we will not allow it because the figure is too far from the amount we proposed,” he said in Cebuano.
Cebu Labor Coalition (Celac) spokesperson Metudio Belarmino Jr. said a P20 wage hike would not be enough for minimum wage earners greatly affected by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
“It is insufficient considering the living conditions of workers because prices of commodities have increased greatly,” he said.
“At least it alleviates the situation. I am not saying it is enough but we have to do something to address this phenomenon brought by the Train Law,” Villamor, for his part, said.
Once RTWPB members agree on the proposed new wage, Villamor said the proposal will be submitted to the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) for review.