Labor presses P95 wage increase

AFTER the elections, labor groups will press anew their petition for a wage hike next month.

In a press conference yesterday, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines–International Trade Union Confederation (TUCP-ITUC) said it will ask for a P95 across the board wage increase throughout the country.

“The last increase was May last year, we would not file it within the period,” said TUCP-ITUC president and former senator Ernesto Herrera.

He questioned the filing of a wage petition by rival Associated Labor Unions (ALU) early this month.

The ALU-TUCP  marked its 59th founding anniversary last Apr. 18 by announcing it will pursue a P70 to P80 wage increase for workers in Central Visayas.

Eva Arcos, executive director of the TUCP Workers’ College, said the P327 daily minimum wage in Metro Cebu had a buying capacity of only P246.24 while the take home pay is only P287.12 after contributions and taxes.

The daily minimum wage of workers in Metro Cebu was raised to P327 daily five months ago from the previous P305 per day.

Under the Labor Code, a wage hike petition can be entertained one year after the last issuance, unless there’s a supervening condition.

While they support non-wage benefits, Herrera said it would be better if the national government volunteers to subsidize the transport cost. UP Intern Apple Ta-as