Labor groups want P147 wage increase

CEBU, Philippines -  Various labor leaders in Cebu have agreed that due to current the “supervening conditions,” there is a dire need to file another round of wage increase.

“The Living Wage Coalition agreed that the amount to be filed is P174 per day for all workers in Central Visayas,” said Jose Tomongha, one of the labor representatives to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-7.

LWC is composed of more than 40 labor organizations and unions that was formed last year when they sought an increase of P132 per day wage for workers in the region. 

However, RTWPB-7 only granted a P13 per day Cost of Living Allowance for minimum wage workers in Central Visayas that took effect last March 21.

“Amoa na sad ning sabutan og usab kung kanu-a mi mo-file sa bag-o nga petition. Kay amoa man gyud nakita nga aduna na gyuy mga supervening conditions nga angayan na gyud mopasaka og bag-ong petition.” said Tomongha.

Tomongha said that because of these “supervening conditions” such as constant increases in the prices of basic and prime commodities, they will no longer wait for the end of the one-year ban to file another wage hike petition.

 Under the RTWPB rules, wage boards are not allowed to adjust worker’s salaries for a year after the last increase unless they find the presence of “supervening conditions.”

In an earlier interview, Philip Tan, president of Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that instead of asking for wage increases, workers should create their own value and aim to be more productive and efficient.

Tan, who is now one of the management representatives, said that if workers create his or her own value, he or she becomes an asset in a company or business and  if a worker is productive or efficient, productivity increases, then an additional income or bonuses will just comes in. —  (FREEMAN)