RTWPB is yet to tackle wage hike petitions

CEBU, Philippines - The petitions for wage increase filed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the Cebu Labor Coalition remain in the shelf of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board until now.

RTWPB chairman Elias Cayanong admitted that they have not started deliberating on the petitions. What the board has done so far is only to consolidate the two petitions.

Cayanong however said they are scheduled to meet on Thursday next week to discuss the schedule of the public hearing. He explained that it is only after the holding of the public hearing that the RTWPB can start deliberating on the petitions.

The TUCP has petitioned for a P100 across-the-board wage hike in Central Visayas while CELAC is asking for P128.60 increase in the daily minimum wage.

Associated Labor Unions (ALU-TUCP) spokesperson Joy Lim said that they are pushing for the board to immediately act on their petition as the workers badly needed an increase in their pay.

“The workers need salary increase. Kung naglisud ang mga kumpaniya, mas labaw pang naglisud ang mga trabahante. We firmly believe that the workers needed the increase. They should act on it,” Lim said.

While Lim is expecting that the wage board to grant their petition, Cayanong could not promise anything.

“I cannot promise anything as of now. Di ko ka-ingun nga walay increase, di sad ko ka-ingun nga na-ay increase,” Cayanong said.

Lim said that the labor sector is hoping that outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will leave a legacy to the workers before she steps down from the presidency at the end of this month.

“We are very frustrated. Silent goodbye ra ang iyang gihatag namo,” Lim laments.   (FREEMAN NEWS)