AS the Calabarzon wage board continues to evaluate the minimum wage rate in the region, workers are pushing for a P750 increase in the floor salary in Region IV-A.
In their joint wage petition, several labor groups asked the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) – Region IV-A to grant a P750 wage hike in its forthcoming wage order.
“Granting the P750 increase in minimum wage in the region is extremely urgent to cope with the needs of a worker and his family,” said the labor groups.
“This is the realization of the constitutional provision on living wage and in compliance with the criteria of minimum wage fixing under Article 124 of the Labor Code, which is the demand for living wage,” they added.
If granted, the daily minimum wage rate in Calabarzon would be set between P1,135 to P1,270.
“The current wage situation of ordinary minimum wage earners in the region needs the following wage adjustment/increase,” said the labor groups, led by the National Federation of Labor Union – Kilusang Mayo Uno, Federation of Free Workers, Kilos Na Manggagawa – Southern Tagalog, and Confederation of Filipino Workers.
Earlier, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the workers in Calabarzon can expect a new wage order by September.
It was back on September 24, 2023 when the last wage order in Calabarzon took effect.
Wage Order No. IVA-20 provided a wage increase ranging from P35 to P50.
This brought the new minimum wage rates in the region to P385-P520 in the non-agriculture sector; P385-P479 in the agriculture sector; and P385 for retail and service establishments employing not more than 10 workers.
The Labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) disputed claims made by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) that individuals spending over P64 for three meals a day are not considered as “food poor.”
In a statement, PM said it does not agree with the statement of NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan on setting the P64 food poverty threshold as it is below the 2023 poverty threshold of P87.
“The P13,061 poverty food threshold for Metro Manila in the first semester of 2023 implies that a person needs more than P87 per day to be considered not poor,” said PM.
