Wage board rejects wage increase

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — Almost a year and a half since the last wage hike in Central Luzon, the Regional Tripartite Wage Board (RTWB) sees no basis for another wage increase in the region.

"The consumer price index (CPI) indicates that prices of basic commodities in Central Luzon have not even gone beyond 10 per cent and there is no formal demand yet from the labor sector for wage increases," said RTWB secretary Elizabeth Teves.

The last wage increase in the region took effect in February last year. Under the law, wage increases could not be done within one year since the last increase unless there are "supervening circumstances", Teves said.

The present minimum wage in Central Luzon ranges from P178 to P228.50. Workers of firms with over P30 million capital in Bulacan receive the highest P228.50 daily minimum wage, while workers in cottage industry firms receive the lowest P178.

"But the board is continuously monitoring the CPI and other factors that could justify any wage increase even without any formal demand from the labor sector," Teves also said.

She explained that under the law, wage increases could be considered upon the demand of the labor sector or when the RTWB sees any justification for it.