The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) has asked the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) to deny and dismiss the appeals of eight business groups versus the new wage hike in Western Visayas for “utter lack of merit”.
The RTWPB, in its consolidated comment to the appeals of the WV business groups dated June 13, said the board did not commit any abuse of discretion when it issued the assailed wage order.
“There was no capricious or whimsical exercise of judgement,” it said, adding that there is no sufficient ground or reason to disturb the new wage order.
The consolidated comment was signed by Labor Regional Director Sixto Rodriguez, RTWPB VI chairman.
The NWPC had directed the RTWPB to comment on the appeals filed by the Western Visayas business groups to its order, which 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 effective June 5.
The RTWPB also increased the wages of WV agricultural workers from P315 to P410, or by P95.
The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry asked that the wage increase be reduced to between P35 to P45 from the approved P55 to P110, and for it to be implemented in 2023 to allow businesses time to recover, Frank Carbon, MBCCI chief executive officer, said earlier.
The other business groups in Panay also asked for a lower wage hike and a delay its implementation until economic conditions improve.*