THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) called on the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) to hasten its deliberations on wage hike petitions asking for an adjustment of P456 floor wage in Metro Manila.
TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said there is an urgent need for the NCR wage board to come up with a decision since the minimum wage earners’ suffering grows each day.
“Several indicators point to the urgent need for an increase in wages. The wage board must decide on the petition as soon as possible,” said Tanjusay.
He pointed out the increases in tuition in private schools by 5 to 10 percent last month; in the generation charge of the Meralco by P44; liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices by P27 per 11 kilogram cylinder; and gas prices by 80 centavos to P1.20.
Tanjusay also noted the impending P5 to P10 increase in LRT and MRT minimum fares, P5 to P8 increase in Manila Water and Maynilad water rates, and the .6 percent increase in the Social Security System (SSS) premium payment.
His statement came after Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)–NCR Director Alan Macaraya was quoted as saying a wage hike is already forthcoming in Metro Manila after the wage board agreed to hold a public hearing next month.
“When you say public hearing that means the wage hike has already been granted, but the amount is yet to be determined,” Macaraya explained.
At present, there are two wage petitions pending in the RTWPB-NCR filed by the TUCP, with one coming from the group of Democrito Mendoza and the other from the faction of former senator Ernesto Herrera.
Last June 5, Mendoza’s TUCP re-filed its petition for an additional P85 for laborers in the NCR.
On June 7, Herrera’s group sought to raise the daily minimum wage by P83 in Metro Manila. (HDT/Sunnex)