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Monday, May 22, 2006
Wage body to start hearing pay hike petition in metro
MANILA -- Minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR) can soon expect an adjustment in their daily pay with the wage board set to conduct public hearings on a petition filed last Monday by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said the NCR wage board members, including representatives from a labor group, government, and business groups, could come up with a decision soon since they are well represented.
The TUCP is asking for a P75 across-the-board wage increase for workers in Metro Manila, noting that the amount would help workers regain its purchasing power, which has been eroded with the spiraling cost of fuel and basic goods and services.
Sto. Tomas said that even with the absence of petitions in other areas, the regional wages and productivity boards (RTWPBs) could also act motu propio if it is warranted.
"The wage boards continuously monitor economic conditions and may issue new wage orders even without petitions to alleviate the plight of minimum wage earners," she said.
Aside from the NCR, petitions for wage increase were also filed in Regions 6, 7, 10, and 11.
Sto. Tomas assured the workers that the wage boards would issue a decision soon since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself announced that employees in the private sector deserve to be given a pay increase.
"President Arroyo, in her Labor Day message, explicitly expressed her support for a reasonable wage increase hammered out by the RTWPBs," she added.
The minimum wage in Metro Manila is P325 per day.
Under the Wage Rationalization Act, a wage board is composed of the labor regional director as chairperson and two representatives each from the labor and business groups as members.
Two representatives each from the National Economic and Development Authority and the trade department will also help determine the extent of wage adjustments in accordance with the employers' capability and the prevailing economic situation. (MSN/Sunnex)
(May 22, 2006 issue)
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