TUCP respects delay in Region 6 wage hike

MANILA, Philippines - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said it respects the decision of the Western Visayas wage board to move to next year the implementation of the P10 wage hike that should have been in effect last Nov. 29 following a request by an employers’ group.

“We understand the dilemma the employers are in. We want affected businesses to bounce back financially and return to normal operations as soon as possible. As a responsible trade union and tripartite partner, we respect the board’s decision to delay the implementation of the P10 wage increase in select, affected areas in Western Visayas,” Gerard Seno, executive vice president of Associated Labor Unions-TUCP, said in a statement.

The Regional Wage and Productivity Board in Region 6 issued Wage Order No. 21 last Oct. 30 raising the daily minimum wage in the entire Western Visayas from P277 to P287 for non-plantation workers and P255 for plantation workers effective Nov. 29.

But the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry requested the board on Dec. 6 to make the increase effective six months later to allow local enterprises to cope with the losses caused by the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda.