Western Visayas workers to get wage hike

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Minimum wage earners in Western Visayas will get a salary increase.

Cyril Tacao of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board said an increase of P15 to P30 in the daily wage was recently approved.

Tacao said the salary of non-agriculture workers in establishments with 10 employees and below would increase from P295 to P310. The salary of agriculture workers will be pegged at P315.

Workers assailed the wage order, saying the increase was insignificant and does not reflect the prevailing economic situation.

Wennie Sancho, secretary-general of General Alliance of Workers Associations, said the purchasing power of the peso in the region declined due to the increase in the price of fuel, water and electricity.

Plantation and non-plantation workers sought an increase of P50; commercial and industrial workers, P60, and Boracay workers, P80.

The business sector opposed the wage hike, noting that it was only last year when workers in the region received a salary hike.

Minimum wage earners received an additional P13.50 to P41.50 last year.