Labor group: Wage continues to devaluate

CEBU, Philippines - The Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) and the TUCP Partylist see the need to increase the worker's minimum wage because the "real wage" continues to devaluate.

Jierrah Astillo, ALU-TUCP education officer, said that they see the need to increase the worker's wages but they are not going to file any wage hike petition for now.

It's just four months since December 7, 2012 when the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) - 7 granted wage increase for workers in Central Visayas by P22 per day, making the current minimum wage of P327 per day.

Under the rules, wage boards are not allowed to adjust worker's salaries for a year after the last increase unless they found a presence of "supervening conditions".

But Astillo explained the P327-daily wage has a real value of only P216 per day due to various deductions such as premiums for Social Security Services, PhilHealth, taxes, among others.

"So nakita namo ang panginahanglan nga patas-an gyud ang sweldo. Wala pa mi kantidad kung pila gyud," Astillo said. (We see a need for an increase although we are still not sure of the exact amount.)

During the press conference, some transport leaders headed by Rudy Lacunza expressed their support for the TUCP Partylist which is currently running again in the partylist elections this May.- (FREEMAN)