17 firms exempted from latest wage hike for 1 year

Seventeen companies in Central Visayas have been granted a one year reprieve from implementing the latest minimum wage increase by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Central Visayas (RTWPB 7).

Ernesto Carreon, labor representative to the wage board, said  yesterday this would mean that the 17 companies were allowed to implement the wage hike only starting Dec. 7, 2013.

Two of the 17 companies, a furniture exporter and a carrageenan exporter, cited the reason for asking for the exemption as “in a distressed situation,” while the rest employed less than 10

workers.

The P22 increase to take effect last December will make the floor wage in Central Visayas P327 a day.

Of the 33 requests for wage hike exemption, 14  were denied.

Carreon said that these companies  would be required to implement the wage increase retroactive Dec. 7, 2012 or the day the wage hike took effect.

Two other companies were not covered by the Minimum Wage Law because they were under the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise or BMBE-registered.

This was based from the record released by the wage board  yesterday at the eve of the Labor Day celebration.

MEHITABEL Inc.

The exempted companies  would translate to 671 workers, who could not get an increase for a year.

Mehitabel Inc., a furniture firm in Talamban, Cebu City, is the biggest company given the exemption.

Based on the company’s application for exemption, the firm has 348 workers and the reason for its applicatio was that the company was in a ‘distressed’ situation.

A similar reason was also given by seaweed manufacturing firm, Shemberg Biotech Corp., which employs 213 workers.

Both petitions were deliberated and approved by the RTWPB 7 last Feb. 28.

no increase

The 15 other companies granted an exemption are: Kim Housing Supply with 4 workers; Okee Housing Supply with 4 workers;  Arrow Hardware with 5 workers; Mactan Island Hardware with 2 workers; Club Summer Photo Gallery with 5 workers; Okee Trading with 4 workers; Skyline Advertising Corp. with 4 workers; Rob’s Beans Talk Coffee Shop with 4 workers; Accessoria Inc. with 20 workers; Benz Food Express-SM Branch with 2 workers; Benz Food Express-Parkmall Branch with 2 workers; Angela’s Food and Drinks with 2 workers, Bato International Corp.  with 39 workers; UP Cebu Multi-Purpose Coop with 9 workers; and Cebu Ornamental Multi-Purpose Coop with 4 workers.

junked requests

The wage board denied the applications for 14 other companies. These are: All Win Mactan, Inc.; Scarborough Fine Furniture  Inc; Tradewinds Rattan and Handicraft Inc.; Enfekei International Inc.; NS Ocana; Margo Cereal Trader; The Center Suite Inc.; Pylos Realty and Property Development Corp.; CCMC Employees Multi-Purpose Coop.; Ethnic Ventures Inc.; Naga School Teachers Multi-Purpose Coop; QC Furniture Inc.; Cebu Natural Crafts; and South Sea Resort/Azalea Resto-Hotel.

Two companies which are BMBE-registered: Tenpaku Inc and Cordova Pallet Export Corp. The application of these two companies are good as approved because they are not covered with the minimum wage law,  Carreon said.