P20-hike proposed for minimum wage in Central Visayas

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 7 yesterday failed to agree on an amount that will serve as the new minimum wage in Central Visayas.

The RTWPB 7 led by Department of Labor and Employment 7 Director Alvin Villamor met in a hotel in Cebu City yesterday to deliberate on the proposed minimum wage increase for the region.

But Villamor assured that they will meet again next week to finalize the amount. He said they plan to release it on June 12, or Independence Day.

“Yung susunod na araw naman is a holiday so baka regalo na natin yan para sa mga manggagawa (Maybe it will be our gift to the workers) on Independence Day,” Villamor said.

Villamor said they could not decide on the amount yesterday after labor and management representatives of the RTWPB 7 failed to agree on it.

During the deliberation yesterday, lawyer Ernesto Carreon of the Associated Labor UnionTrade Union Congress of the Philippines and one of two labor representatives in the RTWPB, urged the board to raise the minimum wage by P74, while Jose Tomongha of the Alliance of Progressive Labor wanted a P75-minimum wage increase.

But Philip Tan, the RTWPB 7’s lone management representative, suggested a P13-minimum wage increase.

During the next set of deliberations, Carreon and Tomongha proposed a P34- to P35-increase, while Tan suggested a P15-increase.

During the third and last set of deliberations, both labor sector representatives agreed to a P24-minimum wage increase,. but Tan proposed to lower it to P18.

Villamor, who served as mediator of both sectors, asked both sectors to meet halfway and approve a P20-increase.

But Villamor said they will further discuss the amount in next week’s meeting.

Though they have not agreed to an amount, it was agreed that businessmen under the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise will be exempted from the new wage order. /

Two labor representative at the RTWPB initially proposed a P74- and P75-minimum wage increase, while the lone management representative suggested P13