3 labor groups ask for wage hike

Three labor groups in Cebu yesterday formally sought significant wage increases during the public hearing on minimum wage in Central Visayas conducted by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-7).

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The Alyansa sa Mamumuo-ong Kontraktwal sa Sugbo (ALSA Kontraktwal-Cebu) filed a petition for a P999 daily wage increase, while the CENAPRO Chemical Employees' Association and the Mehitabel Furniture Employees' Union each pushed for a P699 daily increase.

Meanwhile, the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) announced that it will file a separate petition, also seeking a P999 daily wage hike.

ALSA Kontraktwal-Cebu says that if their petition is granted this will make the minimum wage in Central Visayas P1,500 per day from the current minimum wage of P501 per day, while CENAPRO and Mehitabel said if their petition is approved the minimum wage in Central Visayas will be P1,200 per day.

Petitioners said there is a pressing need to raise minimum wages due to rising costs of basic goods, services, and transportation fares and that their proposed minimum wage adjustment would boost workers' purchasing power and stimulate the regional economy.

They further stressed that granting the wage increase would not cripple businesses, saying these would only lose “a portion of their net profits” while workers would finally attain a decent standard of living.

The Sugboanong Mamumuo Naakahiusa Alang sa Living Wage (SANA-ALL), an alliance of labor federations in Cebu, supported the petitioners saying current minimum wage rates are “grossly insufficient” to meet the rising cost of living.