Plea for bigger minimum wage hike in Metro Manila denied

THE NATIONAL Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) has denied the appeal of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) to increase the P22 daily minimum wage hike for Metro Manila workers that took effect last July 1.

In a memorandum of appeal filed with the NWPC late last month, TUCP argued that the P22 increase is “grossly inadequate and does not conform with the criteria set by Republic Act 6727,” which outlined factors to be considered in setting the daily minimum wage to make sure these benefit workers. TUCP reiterated its petition to increase the minimum wage in Metro Manila across the board to P75.

Ciriaco A. Lagunzad III, NWPC executive director, said in a phone interview yesterday that the commission decided in a meeting last Friday to uphold the wage order, saying the National Capital Region Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board “complied with the procedures and guidelines” set by RA 6727.

“The government and the employer decided that the appeal should not be granted because the issuance of the wage order complied with procedure and guidelines,” Mr. Lagunzad said in a phone interview yesterday.

The two representatives of the labor sector dissented, he added.

Sought for comment, TUCP secretary-general Ernesto T. Herrera said in a separate phone interview: “We will be discussing the matter in a board meeting tomorrow. But the [option] is to go to the Court of Appeals.”

For his part, Employers Confederation of the Philippines President Edgardo G. Lacson said: “[We voted not to grant the appeal] because employers have not recovered yet from the financial crisis and the lingering effect of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. The employers are in a bad position right now.” — Ana Mae G. Roa, Businessworld