By MAR S ARGUELLES
LEGAZPI CITY: Thousands of workers in Bicol are pressing for an increase in the daily wage ranging from P37 to P67 to help them cope with the increasing prices of basic commodities, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) last Monday.
The demand for a wage hike was
strongly sought in a joint petition recently filed with the Regional Tripartite
Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) by the Alliance on Progressive Labor,
Pinagkaisang Manggagawa sa Kooperatiba sa Kuryente-Bicol, and the Camarines Sur
Electric Cooperative Independent Union Employees (CINDUEM).
The wage hike sought by the joint
proposal includes, among others, a P37.16 in daily pay increase, a P60.11 hike
for agriculture sector and P66.43 increase in the non-agriculture sector as
recovery of real wage that was not granted in previous years.
They are also asking for the
activation of the Regional Tripartite Monitoring Board to ensure compliance by
employers in the region with the new minimum wage that the RTWPB is expected to
set based on the petition.
DOLE Wage Order No. 15 issued in
2012 granted a P252 daily pay to employees in establishments with more than 10
workers and P228 daily pay for establishments with 10 employees and below.
DOLE statistics indicate that
there are 27,460 business establishments with 123,428 workers in Bicol.
DOLE Regional Director Nathaniel
Lacambra, who also sits as RTWPB chair, said the board will start a series of
public hearings on the petition in all the six provinces of Bicol early next
month.
The pay hike would caution the
negative effects of the continuing spikes in fuel prices that triggered the
escalation in the prices of basic commodities.
Lacambra, who is also the
Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board chairperson, hoped the public
hearing would address and arrive at a “win-win” policy for both parties.
He said “the public hearing is
the most appropriate occasion to discuss and air all positions, views, comments
and suggestions regarding the wage issue.
He said “the result of the public
hearing will serve as input to the Board in crafting a win-win policy decision
on the wage issue.”
Lacambra explained the recently
held public hearing would be a prelude to the issuance of a new wage order that
would address labor issues confronting labor and management.
The hearings, expected to be
attended by management and labor representatives, re scheduled on Oct 3 in
Masbate, Oct 8 in Catanduanes, Oct. 10 in Sorsogon, Oct 17 in CamSur, Oct 18 in CamNorte, and Oct. 21
in Albay, Lacambra said. - Bicol Mail
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