Wage hike petition takes a back seat

CEBU, Philippines - The wage hike petition filed by various labor unions and organizations in Region 7 may have to take a back seat, at least for now, as government representatives to the wage board concentrate on relief efforts for earthquake and typhoon victims.

“Busy pa ang taga DOLE, DTI ug NEDA sukad pa nahitabo ang linog og kaning bagyo. Mao nang wala pa gyud mahisgutan ang wagehike petition namo,” said Jose Tomongha, chairman of the Alliance of Progressive Labor in Central Visayas.

Tomongha sits in the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 7 alongside the regional directors of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

Despite the setback, Tomongha said they are optimistic that the wage board will reconvene and tackle the petition next month.

Last month, Tomongha’s group, the “Living Wage Coalition-Cebu”, filed a P132 daily wage increase for workers in Central Visayas while the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines have filed a P90 daily wage hike for all workers in the region. —/JMO (FREEMAN)