P22 increase for Metro Manila workers OKd

MANILA, Philippines – The Wage Board has approved a P22 increase in the daily minimum wage for workers in the National Capital Region.

This would increase the daily take home pay of Metro Manila workers to P404 from P382.

The increase would take effect 15 days after the Wage Board has announced this in major publications.

In a statement, labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) welcomed the Wage Board’s decision. “TUCP welcomes the wage increase granted today by the RTWPB (Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board) of NCR. [The] TUCP pushes for its immediate implementation to bring relief to workers especially the minimum wage earners, who like anybody else, have to send their children to school.”

Previously, the labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) filed with the wage board a petition for a wage increase of P75 across the board for workers in Metro Manila.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), however, said a P75 wage increase will hamper the job creation process and will only help a small fraction of the population.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has also said that a P75 wage hike would hit the country’s inflation forecast. BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the central bank considered only a P25 a day rise in wages when it made its two-year inflation forecast of 4.7% for 2010 and 3.6% for 2011.

“[The] TUCP is disappointed at how little the RTWPB thinks workers deserve. While we do not wish any more delay in the implementation of the wage decision, we will file a petition for reconsideration regarding this heartless decision,” the labor group said. –abs-cbnNEWS.com