RTWPB-7 junks wage hike petition

CEBU, Philippines — The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Central Visayas dismissed the wage petition filed by Cebu Labor Coalition (CELAC) and four other labor unions for lack of merit.

The regional wage board declared no supervening condition to disturb the recent wage order.

“After some careful study on the trends in the prices of petroleum products, transportation fare, basic and prime commodities and agricultural food commodities, the Board decided that there is no supervening condition evident in Central Visayas. Therefore, there is no need to disturb the existing wage order,” said RTWPB-7 chairman Johnson Cañete.

The decision dismayed Metudio Belarmino, spokesperson of the petitioners, who insisted that there are supervening conditions that would merit a wage adjustment.

"Wa ko kasabot nganong wala sila makakita og supervening conditions. Anyway, nisaka na man sad ang presyo sa lana ug uban pa, we will file another wage hike petition on February 14 atol sa adlaw sa kasing-kasing aron pud maluoy sila nga tagdon among petition (I don’t understand why they did not see the supervening conditions. Anyway, oil and other prices have increased, so we will file another petition on February 14, heart’s day, hoping that they will pity on us and entertain our petition)," said Belarmino.

Cañete said that the decision to dismiss the petition seeking P150 across-the-board increase was supported by information, data, and facts presented by various government agencies within a period of four months.

Among the agencies invited to provide inputs were the Department of Agriculture, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Energy, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and Department of Trade and Industry.

According to Cañete, due to the declaration of no supervening condition the wage board cannot entertain any wage petition.

Supervening conditions include high inflation rate and extraordinary increase in the prices of petroleum products and basic goods and services, among others. (FREEMAN)