Wage board set to discuss salary increase petitions

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-7 will deliberate on pending wage hike petitions on September 10 and 18, 2015.

Jose Tomongha, one of the labor representatives to the board, said RTWPB decided on the dates after it consolidated the position papers submitted by various business chambers and organizations.

Metudio Belarmino Jr. of the Living Wage Coalition and Arturo Barrit of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines presented their wage hike petitions in a public hearing held last August 13, 2015.

APL filed for a minimum wage adjustment of P145 daily wage hike while ALU-TUCP filed for an increase of P92 per day for all workers in Central Visayas.

During the public hearing, business groups and associations opposed any wage increase.

Presenting their position/opposition papers were representatives from the Confederation of Philippine Exporters-Cebu, Hotels, Resorts, and Restaurants Association-Cebu, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Retailers Association-Cebu Chapter, Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Panglao Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants.

Dennis Derige, spokesperson of Partido ng Manggagawa-Cebu, said it is high time for the business sector to give workers what is due them.

Tomongha hopes that the wage board will come up with a new wage order before the end of the year.

The current minimum wage in Central Visayas is P340 per day. —(FREEMAN)