More labor groups to file wage hike petition tomorrow

CEBU, Philippines - More than 50 labor unions and federations in Central Visayas are set to file the P132 daily wage adjustment petition tomorrow before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-7.

Under the newly-formed Living Wage Coalition-Cebu, which has over 20,000 members, it was decided that instead of yesterday, when there are only around 20 labor-union signatories, filing would be postponed to tomorrow to give time for 30 other labor organizations to sign the petition.

“Mas maayo og daghan ta ang (It is a lot better if there are more of us to) mo-file sa petition so that the RTWPB will take us seriously,” said Michael Valle, Alliance of Progressive Labor secretary, in a meeting with other labor unions.

Metodio Belarmino, Cebu Labor Coalition spokesperson and the one who presented statistics to back up their demand, said their request would only raise the minimum wage of P327 to P459 per day in Metro Cebu.

According to his “rationale for the wage adjustment” presentation, P459 is still “far below NEDA’s determined living wage of P725 per day”.

Among the grounds cited as to how the group came up with the amount are insufficient wage increases in the past; reduction of the peso’s purchasing power;  inflation; and the rise of the price of oil, prices of basic commodities, tuition fee, power rates, and  cost of living.

The coalition argued that the yearly increase of prices of basic commodities has crippled the workers’ purchasing power, which is made worse by inflation and the shrinking value of the peso.

“These have eroded the real wages of workers, making it necessary to adjust the minimum wage to meet the basic needs of workers and their families. In real terms, the P327 minimum wage is only P241.98,” it said.

Dennis Derige, Partido nang Manggagawa-Cebu spokespersons, said the coalition would continue to press for a decent living wage.

“We want a decent living wage not libing (burial) wage,” said Belarmino.

Antonio Cuizon, president of the 3,000-strong Panaghi-usa sa mga Mamumuo sa Carmen Copper-Association of Genuine Labor Union, also said that they wanted to be included in the petition to push for the RTWPB to scrap the daily minimum wage rates classification.

“Lahi-lahi ang (Different) minimum wage(s) depende kung asa ka dapita sa (depending on where you are in the) region ug unsa nga (and on what) sector. Sa amoa sa (But for us in) Toledo (City), mas barato ang (we have lower) minimum wage as compared sa (to) Cebu City pero mas mahal ang kuryente didto (but our electricity is more expensive),” he said.

He was referring to the current delineation where minimum wage in Central Visayas varies depending on a place’s classification (class A to D) and on the type of industry (non-agriculture, agriculture, sugar and sugar mills) a worker is employed in.—(FREEMAN)