Board concludes public hearings for NCR wage hike

MANILA, Philippines - The Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board-National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) announced on Thursday the conclusion of the final public hearing for the wage hike petitions filed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).

Allan Tabusay of TUCP presented the P85 wage increase petition, noting the pending rate hikes in water and Social Security System member contributions.

He added that the increase considered a P5-P10 increase in the Metro Rail Transit fares, way below the P25 hike earlier announced by the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Bong Palad, former president of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association said the people need 'living wage' instead of a minimum wage.

Manalo said the P306 real take-home pay of a minimum wage earner in Metro Manila is not considered a living wage.

For their part, the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines(ECOP), Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines and some industry groups dismissed the petitions as unnecessary.

EGOP Gov. Antonio Abad said the wage increase will only benefit a few at the expense of small businesses which cannot afford the increase.

He said small enterprises comprise 90 percent of all businesses in the country.

The board said it will take 30 days to decide on the petitions after a series of deliberations.