TUCP OK with P10 wage hike deferment in Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines on Monday said it will abide by the decision of the wage board to defer the implementation of the P10 wage hike in select calamity stricken areas in Western Visayas.

"We understand the dilemma the employers are in. We want affected businesses to bounce back financially and return to normal operations as soon as possible. As a responsible trade union and tripartite partner, we respect the board’s decision to delay the implementation of P10 wage increase in select, affected areas in West Visayas,"Gerard Seno, executive vice president of Associated Labor Labor Unions-TUCP, said.

The Regional Wage and Productivity Board Region 6 issued Wage Order number 21 last October 30 raising the minimum wage in the entire region from P277 to P287 a day for non-plantation and P255 for plantation workers starting November 29.

However, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry requested the board on December 6 to make the increase effective six months later to allow enterprises cope with the losses caused by devastation.

The regional wage board chairman Ponciano Ligutom said the board approved the PCCI request four days ago.

TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay, however, stressed that there is a valid reason and a very exceptional situation why the labor center did not oppose employers’ request for wage hike moratorium.