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Wage hike mulled for private workers in Soccsksargen

By Allen Estabillo

October 22, 2019, 7:19 pm

<p><strong>WAGE REVIEW.</strong> Various stakeholders attend the initial public consultation held by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board 12 (Soccsksargen) in General Santos City on Oct. 17, 2019. The board is reviewing the prevailing minimum daily wages of private workers in the region as it considers another possible adjustment, its secretary Jessie dela Cruz, said Tuesday (Oct. 22, 2019). <em>(Photo courtesy of DOLE-12)</em></p>

WAGE REVIEW. Various stakeholders attend the initial public consultation held by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board 12 (Soccsksargen) in General Santos City on Oct. 17, 2019. The board is reviewing the prevailing minimum daily wages of private workers in the region as it considers another possible adjustment, its secretary Jessie dela Cruz, said Tuesday (Oct. 22, 2019). (Photo courtesy of DOLE-12)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 12 (Soccsksargen) said it is reviewing the prevailing daily minimum wage of private workers in the region as it considers another possible adjustment in the coming months.

Jessie dela Cruz, RTWPB-12 secretary, said Tuesday they conducted a public hearing and consultation here last week to “hear and assess the pulse” of labor, management, and other concerned sectors on various wage issues.

Dela Cruz said the activity was participated in by 282 representatives from the labor, management, and government sectors who helped review the guidelines, rules, and procedures on minimum wage fixing and the prevailing socio-economic condition of Soccsksargen.

He said among the considerations for the setting of the minimum wage are the needs of workers and their families; the capacity to pay of employers and industries; comparable wages; requirements for national development; and investments and employment generation activities.

“Aside from these factors, the board also considers the consumer price index, inflation rate, and poverty threshold as contributory factors in setting the minimum wage,” he said in a report.

Dela Cruz said they already received the latest updates on the overall socio-economic situation in the region from the regional offices of the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Sisinio Cano, Department of Labor and Employment 12 director and RTWPB chairperson, said they again launched the public consultation on the wage situation on their initiative.

Cano said they have not received any petition so far from labor groups in the region regarding a proposed wage increase.

"The board has decided to review the existing minimum wage even in the absence of any petition,” he said, adding they will convene again next month to study the position papers submitted by labor and management sectors during the public hearing.

Private workers in Soccsksargen last received a wage adjustment in 2018, raising the region’s pay floor to PHP311 per day.

Workers in the non-agriculture sector received an increase of PHP16 in their daily pay while those in agriculture, retail, and service establishments got an additional PHP18.

It set the new minimum daily wage rate for non-agriculture workers to PHP311 and those working in agriculture, retail, and service establishments to PHP290. (PNA)

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