C. Mindanao workers to get wage increase

MANILA, Philippines – Minimum wage earners in Central Mindanao are getting a much-awaited pay increase, the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) said yesterday.

Under the new wage order, the NWPC said the previous P15 cost of living allowance (COLA) of workers in Central Mindanao will be integrated into their daily basic pay.

The NWPC said the regional wage board also approved the granting of new P6 to P8 COLA in the daily minimum wage.

The increase brings the minimum wage in Central Mindanao from P234-P260 to P240-P270, the NWPC said.

Starting Dec. 1 this year, workers in the agriculture and retail/service sectors will get an additional COLA of P4-P6.

The regional wage board, according to the NWPC, took the initiative in reviewing the current wage rates in the region, in the absence of any formal petitions for a wage increase.

Meanwhile, no minimum wage hike is being considered for workers in Central Luzon as prices of basic commodities in the region have remained stable.

Elizabeth Teves, secretariat head of the Central Luzon wage board, told The STAR that inflation rate in the region has not even reached three percent since the last wage hike was granted in June last year.

“There is also no petition from the labor sector in Central Luzon for any minimum wage hike, so we see no supervening factors required for any minimum pay increase,” she said.

“Even the prices of fuel have really been fluctuating, so this has not been a major factor to consider,” Teves said.

She said though the regional wage board has been strictly monitoring the prices of basic goods in the region, as these would be a significant factor in considering any wage hike.

“If the inflation rate doubles, then that’s a serious thing to consider even without any petition from the labor sector. But so far, inflation has not even reached three percent so there is no reason for concern,” she added. –-Mayen Jaymalin The Philippine Star  with Ding Cervantes