Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Chamber seeks increase in Cola, not in wage By Carlo P. Mallo
THE Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) said the minimum wage in Davao Region should be maintained and that any other increase shall only be incorporated in the Cost of Living Allowance (Cola) of minimum wage earners.
In an interview Monday, lawyer Bienvenido Cariaga, the employer sector representative to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) Southern Mindanao, said an increase in the Cola of the workers would only be temporary.
"It will only be to buffer the effects of the surging prices of commodities," Cariaga said.
Cariaga added that the business sector is in a wait-and-see situation now as to when the prices of the basic commodities will stabilize.
Nonetheless, Cariaga said there would definitely be an adjustment.
The chamber has reported the P80 to P160 across the board increase in the daily wage sought by employees is simply unaffordable for the employers sector.
"The board certainly knows its mandate -- to fix the minimum wage rate in Region 11, not to increase the salaries of all employees in the region," the DCCCII's position paper said.
The chamber added that the "economic condition in Region 11 as of September 16, 2007, when the board granted the additional P10 per day increase to the then P16.00 per day Cola, has not improved."
"Instead it has worsened downward mainly because of the sudden unreasonable increases in the prices of oil and other petroleum products and rice, which is a prime and basic commodity," the position paper added.
Wednesday will be the start of the three-day marathon hearing set by the RTWPB Southern Mindanao to determine if there should be an increase in either the cola or the minimum wage here in Southern Mindanao.
