THE REGIONAL Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-Western Visayas (RTWPB-6) has started consultations on the petition for a P130 to P150 daily minimum salary increase.

The Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (PACIWU-TUCP) filed the petition in January 2018. Lawyer Ma. Ailyne P. Valaquio, OIC- RTWPB-6 board secretary, said they had the first consultation with the petitioners last Feb. 20 and another one is set on the 28th. Public hearings have yet to be scheduled. “The consultations were already scheduled by the board prior to the filing of the petition by PACIWU-TUCP. There is still no schedule for the public hearing,” she said. PACIWU-TUCP sought a P150 pay increase for commercial, industrial, and nonagricultural firms employing more than 10 workers; P130 for commercial and nonagricultural firms employing 10 workers and below; P140 for agricultural/plantation with more than 24 hectares (ha); and P130 for agricultural/plantation with up to 24 ha. Ms. Valaquio said the petitioner cited the need for a wage increase as the last hike took effect almost one year ago, and that the purchasing power of workers has been eroded due to the increase in the prices of prime commodities and basic services with the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law beginning January this year. The current minimum wage rates in the region, which took effect March 16, 2017 are:

• P323.50 — commercial/industrial and nonagricultural firms employing more than 10 workers

• P271.50 — commercial and nonagricultural employing up to 10 workers; and agricultural non-plantation workers

• P281.50 — agricultural plantation workers

— Louine Hope U. Conserva

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR