Chambers of commerce in Central Visayas yesterday warned that some businesses might close shop, contributing to a high unemployment rate, if the daily minimum wage in the region is increased.
“The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is not against the wage increase because we recognize that human capital is one of the most valuable capital of the enterprise. However we don’t have the prevailing economic condition of the region in general and of Cebu in particular to support an increase as of this moment,” said Benjamin Avila, CCCI vice president.
Joy Chan, Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, pushed for an exemption from any increase.
Manolet Dinsay, who represented the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said businesses in Bohol are still trying to recover from the devastating impact of the 7.2-magnitude quake in 2013.
They presented their position paper on the proposed wage increase during the public hearing yesterday.
Two labor groups have filed a petition asking for an across-the-board increase. The Cebu Labor Coalition sought for an increase of P145 per day while the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) is asking for a P92 increase per day.
The current minimum wage in Central Visayas ranges from P275 to P340.