Labor group plans to sue DOLE for failure to ensure wage hike compliance

CEBU, Philippines - The Alliance of Progressive Workers is contemplating to file a case against the Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas because of its failure to ensure compliance of the minimum wage law.

APW chairman Jose Tomongha said several companies are violating the minimum wage law.

Tomongha said they will discuss today the possible filing of the case against DOLE officials. “Wala man mi authority pagkiha sa mga violators. Only DOLE can do the necessary action. But sad to say that DOLE is very inutile and no political will,” Tomongha said.

According to Tomongha, more than 200 companies in Central Visayas are not following the minimum wage law. Most of these companies are into retail, service and manufacturing services. He said they are expecting more violations from these sectors now that the new wage order implementing the P18 minimum wage hike has been in effect.

“Daghan gyud wala nag-implement. Kaniadto pa na sa mga niaging mga wage orders,” Tomongha added.

On the other hand, militant group Partido ng Manggagawa has slammed the P18 wage hike for Cebu workers as “loose change” and called for the abolition of the regional wage boards for “betraying the working class.”

Greg Janginon, PM Cebu chairperson, said the P18 wage increase is not enough for workers to buy a kilo of commercial rice or even the cheapest NFA rice which is at P25 per kilo.

According to him, the recent wage hike exposes the real economic legacy of the Gloria Arroyo government—deepening poverty exacerbated by a cheap labor policy and lack of social protection.

“The wage boards have repeatedly betrayed the workers since they were established in 1989. The yawning disparity between the minimum wage and the cost of living is the clearest expression of a system failure,” Janginon said in a statement sent to The Freeman.

The group also revealed that they will talk to the labor groups that sponsored or supported the P75 wage petition and discuss a campaign to reform the wage fixing system via the new Congress.

 A study by PM the cost of living for a six-member family in Metro Cebu already reached P900 per day in April. PM explained that even if two members of the family earn a living—the buy one, take one policy of the state—their combined income will not even be enough for a decent life.

Janginon said that out of 19 million waged and salaried workers, only 2 million minimum wage earners will be directly affected by the wage hike. Of the latter, hundreds of thousands more will not enjoy the wage hike because of exemptions and deferments clauses in the wage order. (THE FREEMAN)