CALABARZON schools seek exemption from wage hike

MANILA, Philippines — Private schools in CALABARZON have sought exemption from the implementation of a new wage order for workers in the region.

Representatives of private academic institutions made the appeal during a recent public hearing on wage adjustments conducted by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).

They said increasing the salary of their workers would mean reducing the number of their teaching and non-teaching personnel.

More than a hundred representatives from different sectors attended the final public hearing on the pay adjustment for minimum wage earners in the region.

Earlier, labor groups filed a formal petition seeking an increase of P750 in the daily pay of workers’ in Calabarzon.

The groups said the prevailing P479 daily minimum wage in the region is insufficient and below the poverty threshold.

During the hearing, no one opposed the petition for a new wage order, but some stakeholders were not amenable to the P750 daily pay hike.

The RTWPB is expected to come up with a new wage order within 30 days after the hearing.

The wage board in Ilocos region will also conduct a similar hearing on Sept. 24.