TUCP won’t seek wage hike yet

MANILA, Philippines – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country’s largest labor group, said yesterday it has no intention of filing a formal petition for wage increase as of this time.

“We just had wage hikes recently, in fact some workers in some regions just received their pay hike,” TUCP president and former senator Ernesto Herrera said.

He said the law prohibits another wage increase within one year after a wage hike is granted unless there is an existing supervening condition or extraordinary increase in prices of gasoline and other essential products.

While admitting that many minimum wage earners are having financial difficulties, Herrera said it is not yet the proper time to seek wage increase.

“The TUCP is closely monitoring the situation, but at this time we feel there is no need yet to file a petition for wage increase,” he stressed.

Herrera pointed out that in seeking a pay hike, the financial capability of employers must also be taken into consideration to preserve jobs.

“But if there are employers who are well capable to grant salary hike without the workers formally asking they should do so,” Herrera said. “What the workers are strongly against is that some employers are trying to hide behind the back of other employers who cannot provide a pay hike.” –Mayen Jaymalin The Philippine Star