Gov’t junks wage hike petition

MANILA, Philippines - The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) has junked for being “premature” a petition by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) to grant additional pay for workers in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Alan Macaraya, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) NCR director and the wage board’s NCR chair, said they cannot grant the petition of the workers because it was filed within one year after the last wage hike. The TUCP filed the latest petition last April.

“The board decided to deny TUCP’s petition since it was filed ahead of the anniversary date and there was no recorded supervening event during the period,” Macaraya pointed out.

Under the law, he said, the wage board is restricted from granting successive wage hikes within one year after the last increase unless there is a supervening condition or when there is a constant and exorbitant increase in the prices of oil and other essential commodities. The one-year prohibition ended yesterday.

The TUCP, the country’s largest labor group said, they will refile the wage petition before the board.

TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said they will review the resolution issued by the wage board and submit a new petition soon.

“We are just waiting for our legal counsel to review the official response (from the RTWPB-NCR). We would refile our petition by tomorrow (Tuesday) or Wednesday,” Tanjusay said.

He said they will likely seek the same salary increase of P85 in the daily take-home pay of minimum wage earners. Macaraya said the wage board will meet within the week if the TUCP opts to file a new petition.

If the board finds the petition reasonable, Macaraya said the board will immediately schedule the necessary public consultations in the coming weeks.