The secretary-general of the General Alliance of Workers Associations expressed labor’s dismay after business establishments in Western Visayas rejected their proposed P25-30 per day Pandemic Emergency Relief Allowance for workers.
During the meeting with the Regional Wage Board Wednesday, April 7, Eduardo Estrella and Reynaldo Ambao, who represent management in the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) Region 6, manifested their opposition on the proposal of the labor sector.
Wennie Sancho, GAWA secretary-general and labor representative to the RTWPB-6, said the management representatives claimed “it is not the time to extend additional allowance because the employers are also suffering from the economic recession, business closures and can hardly keep their businesses afloat.”
While the Wage Board did not officially dismiss the manifestation, it was referred to the National Wages Productivity Commission for appropriate action, Sancho said.
Sancho said he is pessimistic that there will be any favorable action by the NWPC considering the wage freeze policy of the government.
“With this adverse development, organized labor will file a petition for a wage increase of P100 per day. GAWA foresees difficult times ahead for the workers amid the pandemic, compounded by unemployment and the deterioration of their purchasing power,” he said.
He added, “with no substantial additional remuneration or wage increase, the workers and their families can hardly make both ends meet.”*