BACOLOD CITY — The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Region 6 (RTWPB-6) will hold a consultation with the management sector on February 20 on the proposed PHP130 to PHP150 daily minimum wage increase in Western Visayas.
Wennie Sancho, labor representative to the RTWPB-6, confirmed the schedule as of Wednesday, adding that a separate consultation with the labor sector will also be set soon.
Sancho said there should be an immediate action to the wage increase petition in the wake of the series of oil price hikes.
The petition was filed by the Philippine Agricultural, Commercial, and Industrial Workers Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (PACIWU-TUCP) through its national vice president for Visayas Joan Cristales before the RTWPB-6 office in Iloilo City last January 22.
The current minimum wage rate in Western Visayas ranges between PHP271.50 and PHP323.50, depending on the industry and the number of workers employed.
The current rates are based on Wage Order No. 23 which will expire this March 16.
Sancho said the new wage order should be issued within 45 days after the conclusion of the last public hearing.
He added that given the current conditions, with prices of fuel and other commodities continue to increase, immediate action would mean a relief for consumers and workers in Western Visayas.
Labor Regional Director Johnson Cañete, who chairs the RTWPB-6, said that Sancho was aware that the petition should go through a certain process.
“We are expecting other petitions to be filed so these will be acted upon simultaneously,” he said.
Cañete pointed out that after the consultations with the management and labor sectors, at least two public hearings would be conducted before the board deliberations could take place. (PNA)
