|
Friday, April 30, 2004
Board to hear wage petitions
By CHARMAINE Y. RODRIGUEZ
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 7 is set to hear on May 20 the petitions for wage adjustment filed by two labor groups.
The board will hear the petitions for wage adjustment of P50 and P60 filed by the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) and the Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbo (AMA-Sugbo), respectively.
RTWPB 7 Chairman Rodolfo Sabulao has issued a notice to allow parties who might wish to oppose a wage increase to file their opposition before the hearing.
The hearing will be held in Tagbilaran City.
AMA-Sugbo chairman Winnie Badayos said the P60 wage adjustment they are seeking is for the “immediate relief” of workers burdened by rising prices of basic commodities.
If the government grants their petition for a P125 across-the-board increase nationwide, it could scrap the adjustment.
The current minimum wage in class A cities and towns in Central Visayas, such Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu Cities, is P200.
ALU spokesperson Joy Lim, for her part, said their organization, which earlier expressed support for President Arroyo’s candidacy, has agreed to settle for a P50 adjustment.
They believe, though, that workers need an increase of P113 “to match the rise in the consumer price index” and recover the eroded purchasing power of workers.
However, they have taken into consideration the repercussions of a wage increase, such as on the viability of businesses.
“Employers should make a similar move to compromise as we have and also take into consideration the welfare of their workers and not only safeguard their revenues,” the group’s petition read.
ALU-TUCP will march toward the New Cebu Coliseum for a gathering with Arroyo as possible guest tomorrow, Labor Day.
For its part, AMA-Sugbo, which is supporting the party-list group Anakpawis, will hold a rally in front of Metro Gaisano on Colon St. to call on the government to respect the economic and democratic rights of workers.
Badayos said they will also call for the approval of the P125 wage increase for workers and the P3,000 additional pay for government workers.
(April 30, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
