THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Friday, May 10, filed separate wage hike petitions in three more regions.
Wage adjustments are now being sought for private sector workers in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Northern Mindanao, National Capital Region and Central Visayas.
In a statement, TUCP president Raymond Mendoza said petitions to increase the daily minimum wage to P768 were filed in Central Luzon (Region 3) and Calabarzon (Region 4-A).
In Northern Mindanao (Region 10), the TUCP is seeking to bring the daily wage to P782.
“Urgent attention on the prevalence of nutrition deficiency among Filipino workers and their families due to severely diminished take home pay is necessary,” said Mendoza.
“Businesses and the government should invest on the health and well-being of the workers by ensuring that their wages can afford them proper nourishment and embark on building a robust and healthy workforce for business and economic growth,” he furthered.
In its petition lodged with the Central Luzon wage board, the TUCP claims that the real value of the P400 daily minimum wage is only P339.85.
Less the government-mandated deductions amounting to P47.05 daily, TUCP stressed that the take-home pay of a minimum wage earner in Central Luzon is only P352.95/day with a real value of only P299.87.
Similarly, TUCP's petition before the Calabarzon wage board said the real value of the P400 daily minimum wage in Calabarzon is only P340.72.
Given the government-mandated deductions estimated at P47.05 daily, the TUCP said the take-home pay of a minimum wage earner in Calabarzon is only P352.95/day with a real value of only P300.64.
In Northern Mindanao, TUCP said the P365 daily minimum wage is only P293.64.
Less the government-mandated deductions of P47.05 daily, the take-home pay of a minimum wage earner in Northern Mindanao is a measly P317.95/day with a real value of only P255.79.
“That the existing minimum wage sorely meets basic human needs for food, water, clothing, education, transport, health, housing, toiletries, and electricity,” the TUCP said in its petitions.
The last wage orders took effect on August 1, April 28 and November 1 last year in Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Northern Mindanao, respectively.
Earlier, the labor group filed a petition for a P710 wage increase, on top of the P500 to P537 current minimum wage, for private sector workers in Metro Manila.
The group also sought to increase the daily minimum wage in Central Visayas region to P772 per day. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)