The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board is expected to issue a new Wage Order in August.{{more}}
This will be an offshoot of the consultations conducted by the RTWPB across the country. The consultations are done by region. In the Visayas, the RTWPB is headed by Regional Chairman Elias Cayanong.
In the Dumaguete consultation last Wednesday at the Bethel Guest House, both labor and management were locked in disagreement over the wage hike issue.
Labor is demanding an across-the-board increase of up to P128 per day while management is taking the stand for a status quo.
The Negros Oriental Business Development Foundation and the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry represented by NOBDF Chairman Greg Uymatiao Jr. and Ed Du, respectively, said many of the Dumaguete and Negros Oriental businessmen are still reeling from the effects of the global financial crisis.
On the other hand, the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the Alliance of Progressive Labor Shemberg Independent Employees Union cited various factors contributing to their miserable plight, such as the unstable oil price hikes, the increasing consumer price index, increasing cost of living, high inflation rate, possible increase in transport fare, increase in electricity and water rates and in prices of other basic commodities.
Labor lawyer Whelma Yap, representing some business establishments in the City, said her clients are proposing a balance because both labor and the employers are feeling the pains of the global financial crisis.
Ramon del Prado of the Negros Oriental Planters Association said it is not the right time for any wage increase in the labor-intensive sugar industry, especially when El Niño struck last year and affected their yield. He also said that the Sugar Regulatory Administration has already predicted a drop in sugar production this year.
“The best solution is something that labor and management will not like,” Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board regional chairman Elias Cayanong said at a consultation in Dumaguete on the petitions of two labor organizations in the region recently.
Cayanong said that after all the stakeholders have submitted their respective position papers, the board will come up with Wage Order No. 15 to be implemented starting August this year, if there are no appeals, or motions for reconsideration. (PNA/JG)
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