Wage hike petitioners to appeal P13 COLA decision of RTWPB

CEBU, Philippines - Wage increase petitioners will be filing a motion for reconsideration to the National Wage and Productivity Commission on the recent decision of the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board-7 to give a provisionary P13 Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to minimum wage earners instead of a salary hike.

Jose Tomongha, one of the labor representatives to the wage board said that the petitioners will be having a meeting this Thursday to discuss their final action on the matter.

It can be recalled that RTWPB-7 last February 14, granted a Cost of Living Allowance of P13 per day for workers in Central Visayas who are receiving the current minimum wage.

Tomongha, who is also the chairman of the Alliance of Progressive Labor-Visayas said that they will make an appeal that the P13 be part of the worker’s monthly salary.

“Mo-file mi og motion for reconsideration or an appeal nga gusto namo nga ang P13 di lang siya allowance but apil gyud siya sa monthly salary sa mga workers,” said Tomongha.

Under the newly-approved wage order, the P13 COLA would be given to workers based on the number of days they are present to work.

Tomongha’s group, dubbed as the Living Wage Coalition, filed a P132 daily wage increase for all workers in Central Visayas while the Associated Labor  Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines filed a P90 daily wage hike for all workers in the region.

It can be recalled that during the wage hike public hearing, various business sectors including the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, among others, strongly opposed any increase in wages.

The wage hike petitioners though, maintained that there is a need to increase the salaries of workers as prices of prime and basic commodities, including power rates, tuition fees, among others were also increasing.  (FREEMAN)