Petition in: P145.10 wage hike

CEBU, Philippines — Four workers’ groups filed yesterday a petition for a P145.10 daily wage increase before the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board in Central Visayas.

The proposed increase covers workers in the non-agricultural and agricultural sectors in the region.

The petitioners were the Cebu Labor Coalition, Lonbisco Employees Organization, Metaphil Workers Union, and Unionbank Employees Association.

Minimum wage earners in the region got a P13 hike in their wages effective March 10 this year as contained in Wage Order No. 20.

But in their eight-page petition, yesterday’s petitioners said that since then, there have been supervening conditions “that warrant and justify a review of the wage structure and the issuance of a new wage order.”

They cited the rising cost of fuel and prices of basic commodities, as well as the impending hike in transportation fare, among others.

Metudio Belarmino, spokesperson of CLC, said the value of P1 is now equivalent only to P0.66.

Belarmino said his group is hoping that the newly-filed petition will be among the concerns to be tackled when the wage board convenes on September 28. This despite an earlier pronouncement that no wage increase petition shall be entertained within a year from the time the last wage hike was implemented, which was March 10.

Under the rules, the wage board will not entertain any wage petition within one year from the date of implementation of the latest wage increase, unless there are supervening conditions.

These supervening conditions include increases in the prices of fuel and basic commodities, cost of living, inflation rate, among others.

Belarmino said based on their computation, the presence of supervening conditions is very clear.

“The workers will face higher prices of goods and services once the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion will be implemented. Real wages falling, higher taxes imminent,” part of the petition read.

The petition added it is time for Region 7’s wage board to evaluate its “failure” to provide substantial and significant wage increase for workers.

Earlier, Glenn Soco, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the country is considered one of the most expensive places to do business in Asia.

He called on businesses to remain competitive to achieve their growth targets, which will eventually redound to better wages, income, and opportunities for the people. (FREEMAN)