Appeals filed by business groups before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) and National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPV) seeking the recall of the new Western Visayas wage order will not halt its implementation, Labor Regional Director Sixto Rodriguez Jr. said Friday, May 20.
The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry that is opposed to the wage hike is filing a notice of appeal before the RTWPB on Monday or Tuesday, Frank Carbon, MBCCI chief executive officer, said.
Other business groups in Negros Occidental and Panay are also filing similar appeals, he added.
Carbon said they are not saying that there should be no increase but the amount should be less and there should be proper timing for its implementation.
An increase of between P25 to P50 would be more reasonable, P110 is terrible, he said.
“The wage order will be implemented even if they file notices of appeal, but hearings will be conducted,” Rodriquez said.
Rodriguez said the new RTWPB order granting a minimum wage hike of P55 to P110, which has been affirmed by the NWPC, was published in newspapers in Western Visayas on Friday and will take effect 15 days after.
It is expected to take effect by June 5.
The new order increased the daily wages of employees in private establishments employing 10 workers and below from P310 to P420 or by P110, and for those employing more than 10 workers from P395 to P450 or by P55.
It also increased the wages of WV agricultural workers from P315 to P410, or by P95.*