RTWPB rejects wage hike petitions

CEBU, Philippines – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Central Visayas has rejected the twin petitions of the labor groups demanding for P100 and P128 across the board wage increases to workers.

Department of Labor-7 regional director Elias Cayanong said the employers representatives to the seven-man wage board strongly objected to the petitions of the labor groups.

Although the employers are willing to grant wage increase, but Cayanong explained that they cannot afford to give an increase of P100 everyday to the workers’ salaries.

Cayanong said the wage board conducted a series of public hearings in different parts of the region after the Alliance of Progressive Labor and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines demanded a P128.60 increase and a P100 wage increase, respectively.

The wage board is composed of two representatives from the labor sector, two from the government and two others representing the employers, while the labor regional director will only vote to break a tie.

Cayanong explained to dyLA yesterday that because one of the labor sector representatives resigned from his post a few months ago and until now has not been replaced, the workers may not be able to pursue their intentions.

Joe Tumongha of the Alliance of Progressive Labor has strongly criticized the government representatives to the board for siding with employers that prompted him to challenge them to resign from the board.

The government representatives to RTWPB-7 are National Economic Development Authority-7 regional director Marlyn Rodriguez and Department of Trade and Industry regional director Asteria Caberte.

But Cayanong said the members of the board may again meet next week to discuss on the final amount of wage increase to be implemented in the region.

TUCP Partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza explained that there is a need for a minimum wage increase this year because the prices of basic goods and services, including power and water, have already increased.

But Cayanong said the businessmen behind the furniture and sugar industries strongly opposed the rate of increase demanded by the labor groups.

The furniture industry players claimed that they are still experiencing a financial crisis saying that the export furniture shipments from Cebu fell about 70 percent from 2007 to 2009.

“Magtigum mi pag-usab og basin maka-come up na kami og amount nga acceptable sa tanan,” Cayanong added.

TUCP spokesman Joy Lim said this latest development only gives the impression that the region favors only businessmen while labor continues to wallow in poverty.

“ALU-TUCP will not falter, we will not yield to the selfish motives of many employers who want to keep the fruits of labor for themselves,” Lim said. (THE FREEMAN) –Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (The Freeman)