TUCP seeks P418 minimum wage hike in Davao Region
THE Philippines’ largest labor federation said on Thursday that it filed a petition for a P418 pay increase in Davao, which would bring the region’s daily minimum wage to P814.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) cited in its petition that the last wage hike in Region 11 took effect in February 2019.
“Wages were set to the cost of living three years ago. The wages are no longer able to cope with current cost of living,” TUCP President Raymond Democrito Mendoza said, citing increases in fuel and food prices.
The TUCP also noted that poverty incidence in the region was high based on 2021 first half data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Of the five provinces in the region, Davao Occidental’s poverty rate was 31.7%, while Davao Oriental’s was 24.5%.
Davao de Oro’s poverty rate was 21.8%; Davao del Norte 13.6%; and Davao del Sur, which geographically includes Davao City, 7.9%.
The TUCP said that according to 2021 government estimates, monthly incomes in the region should be P13,619 to stay above the poverty threshold. Monthly income is P10,296 at the current minimum wage of P396.
“Our minimum wage earners and their families fell below the poverty level even before the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the succeeding oil price hikes that are now pushing up the prices of basic goods and services,” Mr. Mendoza said.
The TUCP last week filed a wage hike petition of P430 in the Central Visayas or Region VII, which includes Cebu City.
In the Western Visayas or Region VI, the regional wage board issued a notice of public hearing for the minimum wage petition filed by the Bacolod City-based FISHTA Union of Employees Reforms Through Solidarity Actions.
The labor group is seeking a new minimum wage of P750 across all sectors in the Western Visayas. The hearings are set for April 8, 11, and 12 at various venues across the region.
The last wage hike Region VI took effect in November 2019, with minimum daily rates ranging from P310 for non-agricultural establishments with up to 10 workers to P395 for those with more than 10 employees. — Maya M. Padillo and Marifi S. Jara
