Companies to pay P15 wage increase, but…

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—The managements of various businesses will respect the order to implement a 15-peso wage increase in Western Visayas, Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Roberto Montelibano said on Wednesday.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board for Region 6 approved a P15 increase in the minimum daily wage in Western Visayas the other day.

Montelibano explained that management had opposed the wage increase because of the current economic difficulties but they would abide by the ruling of the wage board.

However, he warned that many small-and medium-scale businesses would not be able to afford the wage hike and might have to seek exemption.

The wage order allows distressed establishments and new business enterprises a one-year exemption from the payment of the new minimum wage upon application with and approval of the wage board.

The period for application for exemption is 75 days from the publication of the wage order’s approved implementing rules, the Department of Labor and Employment said.

The other small businesses may also have to resort to lesser workdays or layoffs to survive, Montelibano said.

On the other hand, wage board labor representative Wennie Sancho said labor opposed the P15 wage increase because it was inadequate.

Sancho said they might file an appeal before the National Wages and Productivity Commission to increase the amount, without delaying the implementation of the latest wage order.

With the 15-peso increase, the new minimum wage in Region 6 is P265 per day for non-agricultural establishments employing more than 10 workers; P223 for non-agricultural establishments employing 10 workers or less; P233 for workers in the agricultural plantation sector; and P223 for workers in the agriculture-non plantation sector. –Carla Gomez, Philippine Daily Inquirer