Congress to probe RTWPB labor rep

COMMITTEE members for Labor and Employment (Cole) in the House of Representatives promised to investigate the alleged unfair labor representation in the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).

Several labor unions in Cordillera and even national organizations revealed there is an alleged imbalance under the RTWPB claiming the labor sector is not well represented despite its representative as a member of the board.

They revealed this to the sub–committee for Labor and Employment in Luzon during a recent public consultation on the proposed wage hike increase held in January 18 in La Trinidad, Benguet.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno, Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston), Koalisyon ng Progresibong Manggagawa at Mamamayan, and the Hongkong Bank Independent Labor Union revealed the labor representative to the RTWPB is not actually presenting the side of the sector because he fails to present complaints of workers.

Piston national president George San Mateo said the board is allegedly unfair in its hearings because it mostly neglected the cries of the Filipino workers.

He added the labor representative to the board is not active in presenting the difficulties the workers are experiencing now.

He said the committee should do something to oust the labor representative. Several labor union officials and members agreed and joined San Mateo in his plea.

The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)–Cordillera Director and chairman of the RTWPB Henry John Jalbuena and his companions expressed surprise to the allegations claiming that they are not aware of such unfair representation, but promised to look into it.

Furthermore, the Cole chairman Emil Ong (2nd District, Northern Samar) and Benguet Representative Ronald Cosalan also promised to investigate on the matter.