Firm’s petition for wage hike exemption studied

The wage board will tackle a Cebu-based company’s request for exemption of the P20 minimum wage increase.

Central Visayas Labor Director Exequiel R. Sarcauga said only one company in Central Visayas so far  submitted a petition for exemption from the implementation of the P20 wage hike.

Sarcauga, who is also the chairman of the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB-7), however, refused to name the company because the board would still decide whether to approve the petition.

He said that only the “distressed” companies were qualified to submit the petition.

Sarcauga said that if a company underwent a 20 percent decrease on revenue for 2010, then they would be qualified to submit the petition.

The RTWPB-7 approved the P20 wage hike last September and is the highest wage increase approved for the region so far.

It was implemented in Central Visayas last Sept. 22.

Workers in Class A areas—including Metro Cebu, Carcar City and Danao City—recieved P305 in daily pay up from the current P285.

Workers in Class B areas—those outside Metro Cebu but within Cebu province— recieved P285 per day, up from P265.

Those in Class C areas—including Siquijor, Bantayan and Camotes Islands— recieved P260 per day, up from P240./Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya