Hearings scheduled for COLA inclusion to minimum wage

CEBU, Philippines - Amidst clamor from the employer sector, the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board-7 has still to conduct two more public hearings on the incorporation of the P13/day Cost of Living Allowance to the basic pay of the minimum wage earners.

Jose Tomongha, one of the labor representatives to the wage board, said they will conduct combined public hearing for Dumaguete and Siquijor employers and other stakeholders on October 28 and in Bantayan Island on November 4.

“After conducting the public hearing in Cebu and Bohol, naa’y clamor sa mga employers in these three areas nga mag-conduct sad og public hearing,” said Tomongha.

After the November 4 public hearing, Tomongha said the board will convene, hoping to issue an amended wage order of Wage Order VII-18.

The said wage order granted a P13 per day COLA to minimum wage earners in Central Visayas that took effect last March 21, 2014 and is be subject to a review six months after its implementation.

It was further stipulated under Wage Order VII-18 (Providing for Cost of Living Allowance for Private Sector Workers in Central Visayas) that there shall be no increase in the minimum wage rates due to two major calamities in the areas of Bogo City and in the towns of San Remegio, Medellin, Tabuelan, Tabogon, Tuburan, Daanbantayan, Sogod, Borbon, Camotes Island and Bantayan Island, as well as in Bohol province.

Bohol was severely devastated due to the 7.2-magnitude quake last October 15 while northern Cebu areas were severely hit by super typhoon Yolanda.

RTWPB-7 conducted a public hearing in Bohol last October 13 and October 14 in Cebu.

Bohol employers opposed that the P13/day COLA form part of the worker’s basic pay while in Cebu, Tomongha said employers are already incorporating the P13/COLA to the workers’ basic pays.  (FREEMAN)