RTWPB-7 continues talks on IRR of new wage order

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-7 yesterday continued their discussion on the implementing rules and regulations once the new wage order will take effect on December 7, 2012.

Jose Tomongha, one of the labor representatives to the wage board, said that their resolution, which increases the minimum wage for Central Visayas earners by P22.00 per day, was already affirmed by the National Wages and Productivity Commission on November 19, 2012.

The said resolution was already published in a newspaper of general circulation yesterday, which is a requirement under the law.

Tomongha said that during their meeting, they discussed that distressed companies who incurred a deficit of 10 to 20 percent of their paid-up capital, shall be exempted from implementing the new wage order within six months after the date of implementation of the new wage order.

He added that distressed companies who incurred more than 20 percent deficit of their paid-up capital shall be exempted from implementing the new wage order within one year after the date of implementation of the new wage order.

They also discussed that a new business enterprise operating for two years from the implementation of the new wage order, shall be exempted for one year while retail and service establishments employing less than ten workers shall be exempted from implementing the new wage order.

Tomongha, however, said that those who wished to apply for exemption must do so before the RTWPB-7 since the granting of such exemption is not automatic.

Tomongha added that the final IRR is yet to be approved by the seven members of the board as well as approval from the NWPC.

Wage board members set December 13 as their date of meeting for the final deliberation of the IRR.

The P22.00 wage hike was way below the increase sought by the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the Alliance of Progressive Labor and its allied unions.

ALU-TUCP sought a P90-wage increase while APL sought a P121.84 wage increase for daily wage earners in Region VII.  (FREEMAN)