Wage hike ruling for Region 12 workers out next month

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Region 12 is set to decide next month the proposed adjustments to the region’s minimum wage rates.

Sisinio Cano, RTWPB-12 chairman, said Wednesday they will conduct a series of consultations to determine whether there is a need to increase the daily wages of private workers in the region.

Inputs from various sectors will be considered, Cano said, as well as the results of the discussions during a public hearing and consultation called for by the board here last month.

The board will also look into the prevailing socio-economic conditions in the region based on the assessments of the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Also known as Soccsksargen, the region comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

“We hope to be able to come up with a fair decision within 45 days,” Cano said in a statement.

The official said the board has not received any formal petition for wage adjustment but a workers’ union based in Koronadal City has already submitted a position paper on the matter.

The Yellow Bus Line (YBL) Employees Union specifically pushed for a PHP114.46 daily wage increase in the prevailing wage rates, as it noted that minimum wage earners have been “suffering from the effects of added excise and value-added taxes on basic commodities and services.”

The labor group was referring to the implementation starting Jan. 1 of the new tax impositions under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or Train law.

The YBL union said the proposed PHP114.46 daily wage adjustment cannot be considered an increase “but just enough to restore to the current level the lost purchasing power of the prevailing minimum wage of PHP295 based on the 2006 Consumer Price Index.

RTWPB-12 launched last month a review of the prevailing minimum daily wages “motu proprio” or by its own initiative.

Cano said they also considered the period of effectivity of the region’s last wage order, which took effect on Oct. 9, 2016.

Under Wage Order No. RBXII-19, the minimum daily wage rate for non-agriculture workers in the region was set at PHP295 while those in agriculture, retail and service establishments will receive PHP272. (PNA)