DOLE-8 urges public to attend forum on possible wage adjustment

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) urged for a healthy discourse on the upcoming public hearing on possible adjustment of the current wage structure in Eastern Visayas.

 Following a brief meeting of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) Tuesday afternoon, DOLE Regional Director and Board Chairman Exequiel Sarcauga said that they will open the door of the forum for all interested employers and worker’s group.

 “Everyone is welcome to attend whether they are invited or not invited . We want workers and management to air their views whether to increase or not to increase the existing minimum wage,” Sarcauga told Leyte Samar Daily Express.

 The public hearing will be held at 2:00 p.m. of September 4, 2012 at the DOLE training center located within the compound of its regional office here.

 The official expect that both employer and worker sector will present their position papers that will be a basis of the RTWPB in acting on possible adjustment. The wage body will come up with a decision within 45 after the hearing.

 Rising prices of basic goods and services in Eastern Visayas have prompted the regional wage board here to start a review of the current floor pay for private sector workers without a formal request from labor groups.

 Sarcauga said their move is a motu propio review because no labor group had filed a petition for a wage adjustment.

 Latest available data from the National Statistics Office showed annual inflation rate in the region picked up slightly to 2.5% in July from June’s 2.4%, driven by health; clothing and footwear; “housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels”; as well as “furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house”.

Price increases in the region were still generally smaller than the average of “areas outside the National Capital Region” (3.2% in July from 3.0% in June) and nationwide (3.2% from 2.8%).

 Wage Order No. 16, which took effect on June 1 last year, integrated the P10 Cost of Living Allowance (CoLA) under the previous order into the basic wage and provided a new P15 ColA, which was implemented in two tranches: P10 immediately upon the previous order’s affectivity and an additional P5 starting Sept. 1 last year. This resulted in a daily minimum wage ranging from P213.50-253. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)

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Posted by lsde on Aug 30 2012. Filed under Second Story. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.