No wage hike for rest of 2009

MANILA, Philippines – First, the bad news.

National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) ruled out yesterday any salary increase this year.

On the other hand, holiday pay awaits workers who report for work on Nov. 1, 2, 27, 28 and 30, according to the Department of Labor and Employment.

Ciriaco Lagunzad, NWPC executive director, said the 17 regional tripartite wages and productivity boards (RTWPBs) nationwide are unlikely to grant any adjustments in daily minimum wages due to the prevailing global financial crisis.

“The financial crisis is far from over, thus as a matter of policy, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is not recommending any increase in minimum wages,” he said.

Lagunzad said any adjustments in the daily minimum wage at this time might lead to displacement of workers and closure of commercial establishments, particularly the small and medium enterprises.

Lagunzad said based on surveys of the National Statistics Office, almost all sectors of the economy have not yet reverted to the level before the global financial crisis.

“The major market of our exporters like Europe has not recovered from the crisis, so our wage boards are now focused on employment preservation and productivity improvement rather than wage increase,” he said.

Lagunzad said only one of the 17 wage boards nationwide has received a formal petition for salary increase from labor unions.

“The one-year prohibition from seeking new wage orders has already elapsed for all the 17 regions, so workers can file a petition but we have only received one,” he said.

Extra pay

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said workers who would render service on Nov. 1, 2, 27, 28 and 30 are getting a minimum of 30 percent to a maximum of 200 percent additional pay.

Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day, and Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day, were declared special holidays.

Nov. 27 and 28, the Islamic holy days of Eid ’l Adha, and Nov. 30, Bonifacio Day, are regular holidays.

Roque said under the law, workers who work during special holidays must receive additional 30 percent on top of their regular daily basic pay for the first eight hours of service.

Employers must pay another 30 percent for work performed in excess of eight hours, he added.

Roque said if the holiday falls on the workers’ rest day, the employee is entitled to 150 percent of his or her daily rate for the first eight hours of work and an additional 30 percent in excess of eight hours.

Workers who would not report for work will not be getting any pay during the special holidays unless there is an existing agreement between employers and workers granting payment for special days, he added.

However, Roque said on regular holidays, workers are entitled to their full daily income even if they would choose not to report for work.

Workers who would render service during regular holidays would receive 200 percent of their basic pay for the first eight hours of duty and another 30 percent in excess of eight hours, he added.

Employees required to work during their scheduled day off must be paid 230 percent for the first eight hours of service and another 30 percent in excess of eight hours, Roque said.

Pay raise asked

Claiming erosion in workers’ income, the Alliance of Progressive Labor has filed a petition seeking P126.50 across-the-board increase in daily minimum wage of workers in Central Visayas.

Lagunzad said that the different wage boards are constantly monitoring the economic situation in their respective regions and will promptly grant a wage hike if necessary. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)