Wage increase starts March 10

CEBU, Philippines - Starting March 10, the minimum wage for workers in the private sector and other employees in Region 7 will increase by P13.

Exequiel Sarcauga, chairperson of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), said the increase will take effect 15 days after publication of Wage Order No. ROVII-20 in a local newspaper.

The order will be published today.

Under Wage Order ROVII-20, the new daily minimum wage in the region for each area classification including agriculture and sugar shall be as follows:

1)Class A (cities of Carcar, Cebu, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Naga, Talisay, and Municipalities of Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla, San Fernando, or Expanded Metro Cebu)

Non- agriculture: P366, Agriculture: P348 (non-sugar) and P316 (sugar)

2)Class B (cities of Toledo, Bogo, and the rest of Municipalities in Cebu Province except Bantayan and Camotes Islands)

Non-agriculture: P333, Agriculture: P318 (non-sugar) and P303 (sugar)

3)Class C (all cities and municipalities in Bohol and Negros Oriental Provinces)

Non-agriculture: P323, Agriculture: P303 (non-sugar) and P303 (sugar)

4)Class D (Municipalities in Siquijor Province and Municipalities in Bantayan and Camotes Islands)

Non-agriculture: P308, Agriculture: P288 (non-sugar) and P303 (sugar)

It was on February 13 when the seven board members of RTWPB issued a new wage order that mandated the P13 increase in daily wage in Region 7.

RTWPB-7 then forwarded the order to the National Wages and Productivity Commission for affirmation and NWPC affirmed the same the other day.

All workers paid by results, including those who are paid on piecework, "takay" or on a task basis, shall be entitled to receive not less than the prescribed minimum wage increase per eight hours work a day or a proportion for working less than eight hours.

The order stated that wages of apprentices and learners shall, in no case, be less than 75 percent of the applicable minimum wage rates. All qualified handicapped workers shall receive the full amount of increase.

In the case of private educational institutions, the share of covered workers and employees in the tuition fee increase for school year 2016-2017 shall be considered as compliance to the increase prescribed.

However, private educational institutions that have not increased their tuition fee for school year 2016-2017 may defer compliance with the increase prescribed until the beginning of school year 2017-2018.

"No petition for exemption shall be entertained by the Board. However, in case of a calamity, the Board may accept applications for exemption filed by establishments adversely affected by calamities such as natural and/or human-induced disasters pursuant to NWPB Resolution No. 1 series if 2014," the order reads.

Complaints for non-compliance of the order shall be filed before the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Any party aggrieved by the order may file a verified appeal with the commission through the board within 10 days from the order’s publication.

Exemption

Household or domestic helpers, persons in the personal service of another, including family drivers and workers of registered Barangay Micro Business Enterprises with valid Certificates of Authority are not covered by the provisions.

Reactions

Metudio Belarmino, spokesperson of the Cebu Labor Coalition, said they will file an appeal to the Commission because the increase is insufficient.

"The decision of the wage board is unfair with the impending fare increase, oil price hike in the region, among others," Belarmino said.

Militant groups have been dismayed by the recent wage increase, saying the same is just a pittance.

Dennis Derige, spokesperson of the Partido ng Manggagawa-Cebu, said it is about time to abolish RTWPBs because they allegedly do not serve the welfare of workers.

Derige said that extreme leftist and leftist labor groups together with the Kilusang Mayo-Uno, Bayan and others will join forces in launching a National Day of Protest within the month to show their disgust against all RTWPBs nationwide, including DOLE.

Derige added that labor leaders are slated to speak with President Rodrigo Duterte within the month to discuss the issue of wages and contractualization.

Earlier, Melanie Ng, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said the chamber believes that the P13 daily minimum wage increase for workers in Central Visayas is at the higher end of their computation. (FREEMAN)