Labor group to file petition for P161 wage hike in CV

MENDOZA AND BUSA (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) will file today a petition seeking a P161.00 increase in the daily minimum wage in Central Visayas.

TUCP Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza will file the petition before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB 7) at 9 a.m. today, about 10 days before the Labor Day celebration on May 1.

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Donato Busa said there might be a need for a wage increase, but said the amount sought by TUCP is too big and employers could not afford to give it.

“We find it nga taas ra kaayo ning P161. If ever naa man gani increase, duna pa gani uban wa ka- comply sa old increase (We find it too high. Some employers have not even complied with the last adjustment),” Busa said.

In a petition that will be filed today, TUCP said the recent adjustments granted by the wage board have been overtaken by the increases in power and water rates, health and education costs, prices of oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), basic goods and other services.

The wage board granted a P13 cost of living allowance to minimum wage earners in Central Visayas last February 14, 2014. This was incorporated into the basic monthly salary in October 2015.

Minimum wage earners in Metro Cebu currently receive P353.00 daily, which Mendoza said is equivalent to a purchasing power of P242.28 only.

“The petitioner is asking for an increase in the daily minimum wage of P161.00 to merely make the buying capacity of the current minimum wage P353.00 and not P242.28,” the petition read.

Melanie Ng, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president, said the chamber’s labor committee still has to meet and study the matter.

“We are about to study pa kon dunay (if there is) basis,” she said.

Busa of MCCI said the business sector, through its representatives in the wage board, will negotiate to lower that amount.

“Yes (when asked if there’s a need for wage increase), but it’s not this big. Dako ra kaayo, murag mabug-atan gyod mi. Daghan kaayong mawad-an og trabaho ana (This will be a burden to employers. A lot could lose jobs),” he said.

Busa cited a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on disruptions in international markets that could affect the local business community.

“According to the IMF, next year there will be a lot of chaos sa international markets although ang Cebu or ang Philippines di pa kaayo ta affected, but because of the world situation nga daghan kaayong shifting sa mga economic problems, it might come to us,” he said.

Exequiel Sarcauga, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE 7) regional director and wage board chairman, said they would accept the TUCP petition. But he said the board would have to determine the existence of a supervening condition that would warrant an increase.

Under the law, the wage board can entertain a petition for wage increase after one year or 12 months since the last wage order, unless there’s a supervening event that would warrant for the petition.

Sarcauga said the last wage order was issued last October, or less than a year ago. The board still has to evaluate if the petition has merits.

“There’s no hindrance to file a petition. Anybody can file anytime, and the board will decide to act on the submitted petition. Kon wala pa kaabot og 12-month period since the last wage order, there has to be a supervening condition and the board must decide to that effect,” he said.