Central Visayas workers seek wage hike

MANILA, Philippines — Four labor groups and an informal sector representative filed a joint petition on Friday for a wage increase in Central Visayas.

The regional wage board was asked to grant an increase of P308 per day for minimum wage earners and P1,500 in the monthly take-home pay of domestic helpers.

A wage order approved in January 2020 raised the daily minimum salary of workers in Central Visayas from P386 to to P404.

It also raised the monthly salary of domestic helpers from P3,000 to P5,000.

“With the ongoing economic crisis, we have no other choice but to protect the interest of workers in Central Visayas,” the petitioners said.

Labor groups said the previous wage hike has been overtaken by the increase in the prices of basic commodities, goods and services.

Under the law, petitions for wage increase may be entertained one year after the effectivity of the last salary hike.

Sought for comments, newly installed president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kenneth Co said workers deserve a fair and decent wage to provide for their families.

However, he said employers, especially those affected by the pandemic, need to recover while providing reasonable wages to their workers.

“The NLRC (National Labor Relations Commission) and the tripartite wage board  have mechanisms in place to balance these needs in order to have sustainable economic growth,” Co said.