RTWPB-7 needs more time to act wage hike petitions

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the declaration of a supervening condition in Central Visayas, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board could not act on the two pending petitions for wage hike until after the National Wages and Productivity Commission acts on their resolution.

Jose Tomongha, one of the labor sector representatives in the board, said that they still have to wait for two more weeks before the NWPC decides whether or not to affirm their resolution because of the motion for reconsideration filed by the management sector. The RTWPB-7 declared on August 9 the presence of a supervening condition in the region that would allow the wage board to entertain petitions for wage hike.

The management sector through lawyer Hedelito Pascual, one of its representatives to the RTWPB-7, has filed a motion for reconsideration claiming that there is no supervening condition that would warrant the board to entertain any wage petition.

At least two labor organizations in the region have filed a petition for wage increase following the series of oil price increases that have triggered fare increase and prices of basic commodities went up.

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines petitioned for a P90 across the board wage hike while the Alliance for Progressive Labor asked for P121.84.

However, the RTWPB-7 could not entertain the petitions unless a supervening condition is established because of the one year ban. Under the rules the wage board is barred from entertaining wage petitions within one year since the issuance of the last wage order.

The latest wage order issued by the RTWPB-7 was in September 22, 2011. (FREEMAN)