THE labor sector has reiterated its call to the management to comply with the wage increase for private sector workers in Western Visayas that will take effect starting today, November 27.
Wennie Sancho, labor representative to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-Western Visayas, said they are seeking for the cooperation of the employers in implementing the P15 to P30 pay hike.
Wage Order No. 25, approved and published last October 22 and November 11, respectively, provides a P30 daily pay hike for workers among non-agriculture, industrial and commercial establishments employing more than 10 employees.
From the current P350 plus cost of living allowance (Cola) of P15, totaling to P365 per day, the new rate would be P395.
Employees from establishments with less than 10 workers will get an additional of P15, making the new wage rate P310 per day.
For the agricultural sector, plantation workers will receive a P20 increase. So from the current P295 per day, the new minimum wage rate under this sector is P315.
Sancho, also the secretary general of General Alliance of Workers Associations (Gawa), earlier asked the management that, if possible, they should not wait for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Wage Order.
“The reckoning date of the implementation would be the same even if they have to wait for the IRR. Since the effectivity is still the same, it will still be retroactive,” he reiterated.
The labor sector has also asked the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) to increase its personnel especially when it comes to conducting inspection whether the wage increase is faithfully implemented in the region.
“Gawa is open to reports and complaints regarding non-compliance of the Wage Order,” its secretary general also said.
Simultaneous with the effectivity of the Wage Order, the RTWPB-Region 6 is also meeting in Bacolod City today to review its IRR.
Members of the Wage Board will check whether there are "revisions" made by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
They will also discuss if ever there's an opposition or appeal against the order.
For the labor group, the wage hike is an early Christmas gift for the workers.
They are optimistic that the amount would stabilize the purchasing power of the minimum wage earners in the region, including Negros Negros Occidental.