ALU-TUCP mulls another wage hike for Central Visayas

CEBU, Philippines — The country's biggest labor organization is seeking another round of salary increase for minimum wage earners in Central Visayas due to the soaring prices of consumer products.

Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Congress of the Philippines, however, said they still need until the end of the month to determine how much increase they will ask from the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board.

Tanjusay explained that it is important to know the inflation rate in September because it will be their basis in filing the petition for wage increase.

Tanjusay said ALU-TUCP may consider asking a new round of wage increase for Central Visayas without waiting for one year since the last wage order. Under the rules, a wage increase petition is prohibited within one year since the last wage increase unless there is a supervening condition. The last wage order was implemented in the region on August 3, 2018.

The supervening conditions that may compel the wage board to entertain another wage hike petition includes increase in prices of fuel and basic commodities, cost of living, inflation rate, among others.

RTWP-7 recently granted an increase of P10 to P52 in the daily minimum wage of workers in the private sector in Central Visayas. — FPL (FREEMAN)