Wage board to get side of stores on wage hike petition

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board will be accommodating the request of department stores owners and similar businesses for them to present their side on the impending wage hike petitions filed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the Cebu Labor Coalition.

RTWPB Chairman Elias Cayanong told The FREEMAN yesterday the members of the wage boards will meet this Thursday to discuss when it is best to let the department store owners present their side on the petitions.

“Because of this clamor, we will accommodate them and listen their side,” Cayanong said.

He said that the petitions filed by TUCP and CELAC have been consolidated in order to fast track the process.

TUCP filed a P100 across-the-board wage hike for workers in Region VII while CELAC is asking of a P128.60 increase in the daily wage of the workers in the region.

Meanwhile, TUCP party list representative Raymond Democrito Mendoza accused the National Economic Development Authority with “double-speak” as regards economy and wages.

Mendoza was commenting on the statement attributed to Dennis Arroyo, NEDA director for National Planning and Policy Staff, who said earlier “more time is needed to evaluate the recovery, since there is still a possibility the global economy will enter into a double-dip recession.”

Mendoza said Arroyo warned of a “Round 2” of the crisis, which would consequently affect the Philippine economy through declining exports and imports, as well as foreign direct investments.

 “Our government is engaged in double-speak, talking through both ends of its mouth, first saying that the recession is over, and now creating an imaginary ghost in the room,” Mendoza said.

He said real wages of workers have gone down through the years while the other sectors managed to have their “good times,” global crisis or not.  (FREEMAN NEWS)