AFTER rejecting wage hike petitions of two labor groups, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 7 said it will implement a new wage order before the end of the month.
Speaking before the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza, RTWPB 7 Chairperson Elias Cayanong, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7, said the issuance of a wage order is based on prevailing market conditions, cost of living and inflation rate.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) asked for P100 and P128 across-the-board increase, respectively.
The RTWPB 7 junked the petitions, saying these were unreasonable and unrealistic.
In a meeting the other day, the board members agreed to give an increase to workers, but the amount is yet to be finalized.
Compared to Region 11 (Davao provinces), which has 4.5-percent inflation rate, Region 7 (Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor) has a 3.3-percent inflation rate.
“With that, the workers in Central Visayas will be happy with any increase because the value of money here is higher.
Compared to the wage orders in the past years, the coming wage order will be better,” Cayanong said.
He said they wanted to give the maximum amount, especially to Central Visayas workers.
They also pro-rate the increase in the areas outside Metro Cebu due to variations in the cost of living.
He said they might announce the adjustment by Tuesday next week.
“Our intention at the wage board is always the betterment not only of the workers and the employers but of the community itself, because when the workers’ purchasing power is low, it will damage the economy. So, please give us time to settle this wage issue so that areas outside Metro Cebu can also be determined by way of pro-rating it to them,” Cayanong said.
Aside from the wage increase, Dole has a program called “Tabo sa Mamumuo” where minimum wage workers can buy cheap rice and other basic commodities.
Cayanong said this is one way for the RTWPB to study the cost of living of workers.