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There is no question anymore that a new wave of wage
increase will be implemented again, but as to how much, still
remains to be disputed.
This was in essence what
Regional Director Aida Estabillo of the Department of Labor and
Employment said during the recent hearing of the Regional Tripartite
Wages and Productivity Board at the Bacolod Business Inn, Wednesday.
Based on past trends,
Estabillo said a compromise might be met for both management and
labor to meet halfway and decide how much increase will be
implemented.
In their consultation in
the region, industries and establishments are only willing to hike
the daily minimum wage by P10 to P15 as against the P50-demand of
labor organizations in the region.
Labor groups have already slammed
the P10-offer of management and will reject any offer below what
they have been asking for.
While last year’s wage
hike is yet to be fully implemented by September this year, the
current wage increase proposal was given priority due to supervening
conditions.
Spiraling fuel and food
costs also added urgency to the passage of the petition, she said,
adding that what is left now for the Wage Board to decide is on how
much the increase will be and when this will be implemented.
Estabillo is hopeful that
they will arrive at an agreement soon after the public hearing
scheduled on May 22, and at the same time expressing thanks to the
cooperation of labor and management groups to maintain a harmonious
relationship which “is the only way to ensure a speedy resolution
to the wage hike petition” submitted by the National Congress of
Unions in the Sugar Industry-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines
(NACUSIP-TUCP).
In Friday’s hearing, the
Confederation of Sugar Producer’s Association, Inc. submitted
their position to grant a P10-wage increase saying rising fuel
prices and steep increase in farm inputs and fertilizers will not
make it possible for them to accept the P50 increase sought by labor
groups.
The Metro Bacolod Chamber
of Commerce and Industry as well as the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese
Chamber of Commerce and Industry also opposed the P50-hike being
sought urging the wage board not to lose sight that Micro and Small
and Medium businesses “also suffer from the adverse effects of
increases in prices.”
“These affected adversely
not only their profitability but also their viability and
competitiveness,” their joint position states, adding that they
are only amenable to grant “not higher than P10/day emergency cost
of living allowance to help workers cope with the rising cost of
essential commodities.”
-- Ma. Ester L. Espina
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