Workers in Central Visayas to get P31-wage hike but labor groups unhappy

CEBU CITY—The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Central Visayas (RTWPB-7) approved a P31-daily salary increase for all minimum wage earners in Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental provinces.

Under the new wage order issued on May 24, workers in Metro Cebu considered Class A would receive a daily pay of P435 from P404, while those under Class B would earn P397 from P366 and from P356 to P387 for those under Class C.

The new rates would be forwarded to the National Wages Productivity Commission (NPWC) for approval and would take effect 15 days from publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

The RTWPB-7 also approved an increase of P500 for domestic workers in Central Visayas, increasing the wages to those in chartered cities and first-class towns to P5,500 and P5,000 in other areas.

While their petition was approved, labor groups in the region were not happy with the rate.

Lawyer Nora Analyn Demeterio-Diego, regional vice president of the Associated Labor Union-Central Visayas and labor representative to the wage board, said she signed the new order but with reservation because she believed that the amount should be higher.

“It’s not really enough,” said Diego in an interview over radio dyLA.

She said management representatives sought a P20-increase, but the labor sector opposed it since the amount was too small.

Jaime Paglinawan, chair of the Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno (AMA Sugbo-KMU), said the approved P31-wage hike was an insult to all laborers in the region.

He said the amount was way lower than the P55 to a P110 pay increase for workers in Western Visayas.

“Is the wage board saying that the basic goods in Cebu are cheaper than those in Western Visayas? This is a big insult to the workers who know the real prices of goods here. The minimum wage is simply not enough,” Paglinawan said in Cebuano.

He said laborers had been pushing for a P750-national minimum wage as stressed by the Alyansa sa mga Mamumuong Kontraktwal sa Sugbo (ALSA Kontraktwal Cebu).

“We believe that the P750 national minimum wage will give workers enough source of income so that they and their families will live with dignity,” Paglinawan said.

“I hope authorities will heed our call for a P750 national minimum wage instead of listening to the interests of big businessmen,” he added.

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