Negros Occidental business and labor leaders on Monday, October 23, were not happy with the P30 daily minimum wage hike granted to workers in Western Visayas, but said there is nothing they can do about it.
Wennie Sancho, General Alliance of Workers Associations (GAWA) secretary general, said the amount granted is too little.
While Frank Carbon, Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) chief executive officer, said the business sector cannot afford an increase at this time.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board granted the increase in the daily minimum wage effective November 16.
Wage Order No. 27 provides a P30 increase in the daily minimum wage in Western Visayas.
Effective November 16 the daily minimum wage in the region will be P480 for non-agriculture, industrial and commercial establishments with more than 10 workers, P450 for establishments with 10 workers or less, and P440 for workers in agriculture.
Sancho said the wage increase is not sufficient to meet labor’s needs, but the P30 is better than nothing.
Labor’s petition was for a P100 wage hike.
They will not file an appeal because it is difficult and they will have to put up a bond to stop the wage hike implementation, which they cannot afford, Sancho said.
Carbon said the law on wage setting is flawed because it does not take into account the sales and productivity of businesses.
It should take into account the commensurate increase in sales brought about by labor’s productivity, Carbon said.
They are not in favor of the P30 wage hike but there is nothing they can do about it, he said.
High wages in Region VI is the reason for the rise in food inflation in Western Visayas Carbon added.*