Tuesday, April 29, 2008 Chamber nixes P80 pay hike By Carlo P. Mallo
THE local business chamber in Davao City is giving the proposed P80 increase in the daily minimum wage a disapproving look.
At the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao's Cafe Rysus Monday, Simeon Marfori, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., said the proposed wage hike is a bit too high and will definitely crunch on small and medium enterprises.
"The P80 is a bit high, but I have no problems with the non-wage benefits," Marfori said.
Marfori said the government must also take the situation of the business sector into consideration.
"The wage hike will kill the small and medium enterprises, which are the largest employers in the country, accounting for more than 99 percent of the total labor force," he said.
Marfori added that in time of crisis, the government can resort to palliative measures, only that it must keep these palliative measures on a short term only.
"The government must ensure that it will not stifle and hinder entrepreneurship," he added.
The labor sector has been clamoring for an additional P80 wage increase as rice and fuel prices continue to surge.
