THE Cebu Labor Coalition (Celac) and other labor unions have filed a petition for a minimum wage adjustment.
From the existing P386 daily, they want a rate of P737.50 daily across the board.
Those who filed the joint petition are Celac spokesman Metudio Belarmino Jr., Lonbisco Employees Organization president Alvin Pino, Metaphil workers Union president Melchor Atupan and Unionbank Employees Association president Nichole Malazarte.
If the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) approves this petition, the current minimum wage in Metro Cebu will see an addition of P351.50 every day.
The unions asked the RTWPB not to immediately junk their petition, especially since the existing wage order has been in effect for less than a year, but to conduct hearings so they can present a supervening event.
He said the grounds for a P351.50-wage adjustment are insufficient increases from the past, reduction of the peso purchasing power, steadily increasing oil prices and inflation rate.
Other grounds are increases of water and power fees imposed by utilities, effect of the public utility vehicle modernization, and salary increases in other regions.
Belarmino blamed the passage of the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Law for sparking price increases in basic commodities that heavily affected the workers.
“Every year, prices of basic commodities soar. This has crippled the purchasing power of the workers, which has eroded the real wages of workers, making it necessary to adjust the minimum wage to meet the basic needs of workers and their families,” Belarmino said.
He said the dwindling purchasing power of the peso can be best illustrated when one goes to the market. However, these do not include the additional expenditures on water, light, house rental, clothing, transportation, education, maintenance and other miscellaneous expenses.
“A family of six should have a P986 daily income in order to adequately meet their basic needs in the region. However, even if the demand for a P351.50 across the board adjustment to the present minimum wage of P386 is granted, it will only raise the minimum wage to P737.50 per day in Metro Cebu,” Belarmino said.