THE Federation of Free Workers (FFW) yesterday urged employees to press for the correction of cases of wage distortion amid the forthcoming minimum wage hike brought by the P50 pay increase in the National Capital Region (NCR).
In a statement, the FFW said it is imperative for employees to push for the addressing of wage distortion issues with their respective employers.
“For unionized workplaces, we urge the chief shop steward to prepare for a grievance meeting in accordance with the grievance machinery under the collective bargaining agreement,” said the FFW.
“For non-unionized workplaces, workers are encouraged to form a core group of representatives and request a meeting with management to raise and resolve possible wage distortions in good faith,” it added.
The labor group also backed the call of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for businesses to address wage distortion cases.
The FFW asked employers to be open with their employees in the matter of addressing issues on wage distortion.
“It challenges employers to maintain fairness in their internal pay structures,” it said.
“We call on employers—especially those with the capacity to pay—to implement across-the-board wage increases to avoid workplace jealousy, foster industrial harmony, and boost productivity,” said FFW.
Wage distortion is defined as a situation where an increase in prescribed wage rates results in the elimination or severe contraction of intentional quantitative differences in wage or salary rates between and among employee groups in an establishment.
On July 18, the daily minimum wage increase of P50 granted by the RTWPB-NCR is set to take effect.
