Wage body turns down plea to lower pay hike in Western Visayas

Western Visayas (Wikipedia maps)

ILOILO CITY — The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) has denied the appeal of business organizations in Western Visayas to lower the increase in the daily minimum wage in the region.

Wennie Sancho, labor representative to the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board in Western Visayas (RTWPB-6), said the joint appeal of nine business organizations was thumbed down on technical grounds.

“Their appeal was not submitted under oath and was not legally verified,” Sancho told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The RTWPB-6 received a copy of the NWPC decision on May 11.

Sanco welcomed the dismissal of the appeal.

“This means there is no remaining legal impediment in the implementation of the wage order,” he said. The business organizations in Western Visayas had asked the commission to lower the P15 to P25 increase in daily minimum wage, claiming the increases would lead to lay-offs and stunt economic growth in the region, particularly investments.

The increase which was approved by the RTWPB and affirmed by the NWPC took effect on March 16. It covers workers in the private sector in Western Visayas and Negros Occidental.

Wage Order No. 23 raised the daily minimum wage for those employed in firms with more than 10 workers in the industrial/commercial and non-agriculture sector to P323.50 per day from the previous P298.50 per day.

In companies with 10 workers and below, the minimum daily wage has been increased to P271.50 from P256.50.

In the agriculture sector, workers in plantations now receive P281.50 per day, up from P266.50 daily. The minimum daily wage in non-plantations also increased to P271.50 from the previous P256.50.

The wage order was implemented despite the filing of the appeal because the business organizations did not file a bond to stay the wage increase.

The bond amounts to the increase intended for all covered employees which serves as payment to the employees if the appeal is denied and the wage order affirmed.

The business organizations had pushed for an increase of up to P12 per day, saying more than this would be beyond the capacity of most business firms.

Those who appealed the increase were leaders of the Iloilo Business Club, Inc., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. -Iloilo, Iloilo Multi-Sectoral Business Organization, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Panay, Inc., Philippine Retailers Association-Iloilo, Iloilo Hotels Restaurants and Resorts Association, Panay Organic Producers Association, Ilonggo Producers Assocation and Chamber of Real Estate Builders Association-Iloilo.

Sancho said the wage increase has been a significant help to workers in meeting the basic needs of their families.  SFM/rga