Wage increase not happening soon

CEBU, Philippines - The labor sector could not expect an increase in wages soon as the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board 7 has yet to decide whether there is basis to grant an increase.

Jose Tomongha, one of the labor representatives to the wage board said that he raised a motion for the declaration of a “supervening condition” but this was not seconded by any of the members of the board present during the meeting.

“My motion was deferred until the other labor representatives will arrive from the US,” said Tomongha, who also chairs the Alliance of Progressive Labor.

RTWPB-7 has approved a wage increase in Sept. 22, 2011 and under the rules, wage boards are not allowed to adjust workers’ salaries for a year after the last increase unless there are supervening conditions.

Another labor representative, Atty. Ernesto Carreon, the legal counsel of the Associated Labor Union-Trade Congress of the Philippines is expected to be back on July 29, 2012.

ALU-TUCP filed a petition for a P90 per day wage hike while APL filed a separate petition of P121.84 daily wage adjustments before RTWPB-7 for workers in Central Visayas.

The next RTWBP-7 meeting is scheduled on July 26.

Tomongha is hoping to get the support of Buenaventura Gosoco, the Regional Director of the National Economic Development Administration (NEDA) and the vice chairman of RTWPB-7 considering that Carreon would still be not around during the meeting.

During yesterday’s meeting, Gosoco cannot vote for the motion as he was the presiding officer in the absence of RTWPB-7 chairman Tanggo.

Department of Trade and Industry-7 Asteria Caberte and one of the management representatives Hedilito Pascual attended the meeting.

Tomongha said they both maintained their position that there are no supervening conditions that exist.  (FREEMAN)