Tuesday, August 07, 2007 Management sector wants one-year delay of salary hike
THE management representatives to the Regional Tripartite and Productivity Board (RTWPB) asked for one year moratorium on salary increases during their deliberations yesterday.
RTWPB Chairman Elias Cayanong said the management sector, through representatives Edgar Godinez and Ted Locson, said any wage increase is untimely and will result in bankruptcy to some of them.
In a dyLA radio report, Godinez made the suggestion after he received position papers from Phil Export and the Mactan Export Processing Zone Chamber of Exporters and Manufacturers (Mepzcem).
But labor sector representatives, lawyer Jose Boquecosa of the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP)) and Marianito Ventura of the Trade Union of the Philippines and Allied Services (Tupas), opposed the move.
Cayanong said the labor sector told RTWPB that in other areas, the management granted wage increase to their workers. Also, the cost of living in Metro Cebu can now be compared with that of Metro Manila.
RTWPB deferred the deliberations and required PhilExport and Mepzcem to show real figures in their operations especially that the peso further appreciated against the US dollar.
Cayanong said PhilEx-port and Mepzcem submitted new position papers during yesterday’s deliberation. When they submitted their first position papers last month, the dollar was P46. The exchange rate went down to P44-$1, then settled at P45-$1.
The strong peso weakened their financial capability and eroded market condition, that’s whythey cannot afford another round of wage increase yet.
P136
ALU-TUCP asked for P75 across-the-board wage increase, while Tupas wants P136.
ALU-TUCP and Tupas said in their petitions that aside from the rising cost of living and prices of commodities, the workers must have a share of the so-called economic growth in the region, particularly in Cebu.
Cayanong said that when they continue the deliberation on Thursday, exporters and manufacturers will present their total number of employees and members and how many of them have already ceased operations due to appreciating value of peso.
“The labor representatives asked for details of the management’s claim but despite the opposition, they are open for negotiation”, Cayanong said. (EOB)
