Tuesday, January 23, 2007 Business sector to suffer if P125 wage hike okayed
THE Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) said the business sector is expected to suffer a setback in the event the proposed P125 wage hike is approved.
In Monday's press conference, DCCCII president Domingo Duerme said the move of Congress to pass the P125 wage increase is a direct undermining of the powers vested upon the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB).
Duerme added that it should be the RTWPB to decide how much and when an increase should be implemented, as they are more knowledgeable of the regional scale.
In a statement, the DCCCII rejected the proposed P125 wage hike.
In the region alone, 98 percent of the business sector is comprised of micro, small, and medium enterprises, which according to the DCCCII chair could not bear the brunt of such wage hike.
DCCCII officers said Congress has in no way the right chamber to determine the increase as the RTWPB has already been given the mandate to resolve such.
Unlike Congress, there are no politicians in the RTWPB and the board studies present cost of living relative to the region of their area of responsibility.
The last wage increase in the region was last July 27 with the supervening factor of the oil price increases.
DCCCII representative to the RTWPB, lawyer Bienvenido Cariaga, said wage increases should be based on facts and studies of the present factors affecting one's cost of living and not on whims and caprices.
Various business groups have also expressed the same sentiment over the proposed P125 wage increase.
Department of Labor and Employment-Southern Mindanao chief Gloria Tango has earlier admitted that the proposed wage increase would have more negative implications rather than positive ones. (CPM)
