P97 wage hike sought in Western Visayas

BACOLOD CITY—A labor group in Negros Occidental is demanding a P97 increase in daily wages for private sector workers in Western Visayas.

The amended petition of the Trade Union of Filipino Workers (TUFW) was received by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Western Visayas on Tuesday.

The TUFW petition said it sought to restore workers’ purchasing power amid rising prices of basic commodities.

Workers and their families, said wage board labor representative Wennie Sancho, could barely meet their basic needs.

The wage board will hold a public hearing on the new increase petition in Iloilo City on Dec. 14, said Sancho.

Another labor group, Negros Panay Alliance of Labor (NPAL), is also seeking a wage increase of P30 to P40 in the region.

Esther Sancho, NPAL coordinator, said the last wage ruling issued by the regional wage board was not even about wages. Workers had received a P12 increase in emergency cost of living allowance which was paid in three installments.

Sancho said the wage board order that granted the allowance increase had lapsed on Oct. 16.

NPAL said the current daily wage of P265 in the region was worth only P153.44 in real terms.

This meant that a monthly salary of P6,890 could buy only P3,989 worth of goods and services, the group said.