Zubiri blasts regional wage boards for inaction on workers’ pay woes

Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) | FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Zubiri condemned the slowness and inaction of the country’s Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) in responding to workers’ wage woes, highlighting that new guidelines to trigger quicker action may be included under his wage increase bill.

Zubiri explained during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum on Wednesday that while RTWPBs are authorized to bypass Congress complex procedures to implement more urgent wage adjustments, action from these boards is delayed, if present at all.

“Meron po tayong panukala na hindi para ‘di na rin dumaan sa Senado’t Kongreso ang pagtaas ng suweldo nating kababayan. Meron po tayong itinalaga na regional wage boards. Pero let’s face it, napakahina ng regional wage boards. Napakabagal ng galaw nila,” said Zubiri.

(We do have systems in place so that wage increases do not have to pass through the Senate or Congress. We have assigned this to regional wage boards. But let’s face it; these regional wage boards are weak. They move incredibly slowly.)

“Kung hindi lang umiiyak ang manggagawa’t nagrarally sa iba’t ibang tanggapan ng regional wage boards, hindi po gumagalaw ang ating mga regional wage boards. At kung gumalaw naman ang kanilang increase, P16, P15 kada araw. Ano po ang makakain ng taumbayan sa P15?”

(If workers didn’t cry out and rally to our regional wage boards, they would not make any move. And if they do take action, they implement P16 or P15 daily increases. What can our citizens eat with P15?)

Regional wage boards are mandated to “determine and fix minimum wage rates in their respective regions” and “undertake research and studies on wages and productivity,” according to the National Wages and Productivity Commission under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The Senate president revealed that creating new guidelines for RTWPBs is part of the legislative wage hike agenda.

“Yes, that’s part of the law. And of course, coming up with a [wage] increase, we’ll also come up with guidelines for regional wage boards to ask faster… Minsan matagal, it takes years bago mag-act ang regional wage boards,” said Zubiri.

(Yes, that’s part of the law. And of course, coming up with a [wage] increase, we’ll also develop guidelines for regional wage boards to ask faster… Sometimes it takes years for our regional wage boards to act.)

Although Zubiri has not yet disclosed what the final guidelines would be, he mentioned the need to review RTWPBs’ “triggers” to call for a wage hike.

Zubiri explained the upper chamber might decide on specific inflation rate or price hike markers that would signal to wage boards an immediate need to convene and implement wage adjustment measures.

“We need to review triggers to call for a wage hike. Kasi right now, they will meet when necessary… parang ang dating sakin, nagme-meeting lang sila ‘pag kailangan nilang mag-meeting— kung may petitions… dire need, or increases such as high inflation rates,”

(We need to review triggers to call for a wage hike. Because right now, they will meet when necessary… it seems to me that they will only meet when the situation is urgent— if there are petitions… dire need[s], or increases such as high inflation rates.)

“Maybe we can come up with inflation rates that will trigger that. Kung may inflation rate na over 7%, dapat automatic meeting na po ang mga regional wage boards. Para kung tumaas yung presyo ng gasolina by this much, or food prices by this much— automatic magme-meeting na po ang wage boards,” Zubiri suggested as an example.

(Maybe we can come up with inflation rates that will trigger [them]. If inflation exceeds 7%, it would be automatic for the regional wage boards to call a meeting. If gasoline or food prices increase by this much— automatically, the wage boards would meet.)

Zubiri also addressed Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, asking him to call for quicker responses from RTWPBs.

“I have yet to hear from the secretary his appeal to the regional wage boards to increase rates.  Sabihin niya, panahon ngayon na mag-meeting kayo at pag-usapan ang pagtaas ng suweldo ng ating mga manggagawa,” Zubiri addressed Laguesma.

(I have yet to hear from the secretary his appeal to the regional wage boards to increase rates. [Laguesma] should say, it is time for you to meet and discuss wage increases for our workers.)

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JPV/abc