THE labor sector has maintained that a wage increase should be given to private sector workers in Western Visayas amid oppositions raised by some management representatives.
Wennie Sancho, labor representative to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Western Visayas, said some management groups opposed on various grounds the proposed wage hike petition during the last public hearing at Boracay Royal Resort, Aklan on Saturday, September 21.
Sancho, also the secretary general of the General Alliance of Workers Associations (Gawa), said the groups aired that they are not ready and have not yet recovered since Boracay has just opened.
The operation of the region's top tourist destination resumed in October last year after the six-month closure due to the island's rehabilitation.
"They are also questioning the legitimacy of the petitioner because it is a local union and not a national federation," he added.
The New and Independent Workers Organization (Niwo), a rank and file labor union of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc.-Bacolod, has filed the wage hike petition on July 1 this year.
The petition proposed for the increase of P50 for workers in the plantation and non-plantation, and P60 for commercial and industrial sector workers in the region. It also has a special provision seeking a daily minimum wage increase of P80 for workers in Boracay Island, Aklan.
If approved, it will replace the existing rate provided under Wage Order 24. Under the latter, minimum wage earners in Western Visayas are receiving an additional pay of P13.50 to P41.50 per day.
The existing minimum wage rates in the region included the cost of living allowance (Cola) P295 and P365 per day.
Unlike the previous order, it provided only two wage rates depending on various classifications or categories.
Workers in the non-agriculture, industrial and commercial establishments employing more than 10 employees are receiving a minimum wage of P365 per day.
From the previous P323.50, the RTWPB-Western Visayas came up with an increase of P26.50 on basic wage plus a Cola of P15. All in all, the increase in this classification was P41.50.
Those employing 10 workers and below, the existing wage rate is P295 from only P271.50. It was derived from an increase of P18.50 plus a Cola of P5, or a total of P23.50.
For the agriculture sector, plantation workers received P8.50 increase and Cola of P5. Thus, the existing wage rate is P295. This is P13.50 higher than the previous rate of P281.50.
Those in non-plantations, the existing wage rate is also P295 from the previous P271.50 due to a basic wage increase of P18.50 and P5 worth of Cola, or a total of P23.50.
Sancho said the management groups in Aklan also raised that since the Wage Order took effect in Boracay in January this year, another round of increase should also be implemented after a year.
Sancho said the groups cited the "difficult times" amid impending increase in the prices of fuel which is untimely for a wage hike.
"They also claimed that the influx of tourists in Boracay now is not as regular as before," he added.
The labor sector, however, argued that if the employers are not yet ready, how about the workers?
If the businessmen are poor, the workers are poorer than them, it said.
Arguing the management groups' question on technicality, Sancho said any legitimate labor organization can file a wage increase as long as it has a peculiar interest in the region.
Niwo has counterparts in the region particularly those in other beverage companies. So it is qualified to file a wage hike petition, Sancho said.
"We are looking at liberal interpretation of the law when it comes to wages. We are not covered by the rules of court that they are claiming," he added.
These oppositions, along with those raised during the previous public hearings in cities of Bacolod and Iloilo, will be subjected to deliberation.
Management representatives of the RTWPB Region 6 have earlier submitted a position paper calling for the reclassification of workers.
The Wage Board is set to deliberate the wage hike petition on October 1 and 4 in Iloilo City, and October 10 and 11 probably in Bacolod City.
"Their petition cannot affect the deliberation and issuance of the Wage Order if any, unless they are going to file a restraining order," Sancho said.
He added that "the Board will proceed with the deliberation until such time a new Wage Order will be issued but we will consider their stand."