NCR wage board thumbs down salary hike

MANILA, Philippines –  Workers in Metro Manila and other regions are unlikely to get a salary increase anytime soon despite the expected rise in transport fares and other commodities.

Raymundo Agravante, Regonal Triparte Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-National Capital Region (NCR) director, yesterday ruled out the possibility of any immediate increase in the daily take-home pay of workers in the region. “Increase in transport fare is not one of the grounds within which to increase the wage,” he said.

Agravante said unless there are “supervening conditions” that would dramatically erode the purchasing power of the workers, the wage board is not inclined to grant an immediate pay hike.

He further pointed out that under the law, the board is restricted from granting another pay hike within the year from the issuance of the latest wage order.

But Agravante assured the public that the RTWPB in Metro Manila and in other regions are continuously monitoring the situation and reviewing the “factors” for a possible wage hike.

At this time, the National Wages and Productivity Commission is also thoroughly reviewing the country’s existing wage-setting mechanism with the aim of making it more protective of workers’ rights. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)