‘Aside from the contemptibly small amount granted, the timing of the NCR wage board decision is unfortunate.’
WHEN the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) of the National Capital Region (NCR) released the decision granting a P35 increase in the daily minimum wage rate of private sector workers, members of the panel most likely knew that labor groups would not be satisfied. What they did not anticipate is the intensity of the protest and rejection by the workers, some of whom said the ruling is tantamount to an insult to them.
To neutralize the protest and assuage the hurt, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said anybody who disagrees with the decision can appeal, after which the ruling becomes final and executory. The appeal can be filed within 10 days from publication of the wage order, or until July 11. The new wage order will be implemented starting July 17.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said guidelines allow filing appeals for wage orders before the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC). Any individual or organization, whether labor or employer, who feels aggrieved can file an appeal.
The approval will lead to wage adjustments to P645 from P610 for the non-agriculture sector and to P608 from P573 for the agriculture sector, service and retail establishments employing 15 or fewer workers and manufacturing establishments regularly employing fewer than 10 workers.
The financial argument on wages has become a tug-of-war between believers of legislated wage hike and supporters of the regional wage boards, to which the DOLE secretary and private businessmen belong. Several senators, however, are strongly pushing for legislation on this.
Senate President Francis Escudero slammed the P35 daily minimum wage hike, saying the amount is not enough to be considered a “living wage” due to the rising inflation rate.
“The Senate has passed a P100 across the board (legislated) wage increase which should be the minimum increase. I believe it is still not enough to provide what the Constitution requires — a ‘living wage’ and not mere ‘minimum wage,’” he said.
Escudero wondered why the RTWPB, since its creation, had always approved meager salary hikes. “It is very clear that the wage increase cannot satisfy the needs of our countrymen amid the rising inflation rate. The Senate will continue to fight and stand for the principle and belief that a small decrease in businessmen’s earnings will not turn them bankrupt, but would rather be a big help to our workers” he said.
Senate President pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada maintained that the workers are better off with a legislated wage increase of P100 as proposed in Senate Bill No. 2534, although the measly increase granted by the wage board might be a temporary palliative measure.
“While this increase is a positive development, we must continue to strive for comprehensive measures that will further protect and uplift the lives of our workers. Ensuring wages keep pace with the cost of living and inflation is fundamental to promoting economic stability and social equity,” Estrada said.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who has also batted for a P100 daily legislated wage increase nationwide, said the P35 wage increase is an “insult” to workers as it is “grossly insufficient” to meet the rising costs of products and services.
Aside from the contemptibly small amount granted, the timing of the NCR wage board decision is unfortunate. It came less than three weeks before President Marcos Jr’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA). Thus, the labor sector is expected to scale up its protests on July 22. This early, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) has stressed that the demand for a family living wage standard would be the workers’ banner call in their protest actions. Organized labor may have differing political persuasions and ideologies but on the issue of basic wages for the workers, they will most likely speak as one.
The government’s judicious handling of this problem is imperative.
