Calabarzon wage board defers decision on workers’ pay hike petition for 2nd time

CITING the effects of economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the regional wage board of Calabarzon has deferred for the second time since 2019 its decision on a pending petition for a minimum-wage increase.

In its Board Resolution 1, Series of 2021, the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board 4A (RTWPB-14) announced it would postpone its action on the petition of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) for a P50.91 to P70.92 pay hike.

“The foregoing events, especially the lockdown imposed to minimize the spread of Covid-19 have created an adverse impact on the regional and national economy,” RTWPB-4A said in its three-page issuance.

Among the economic indicators the wage board used in its decision was the spike in unemployment in the region, which rose to 11.6 percent last year from 6.2 percent in 2019.

The pandemic caused higher underemployment (17.20 percent) and consumer price index (121.6) last year due to the pandemic that contributed to the economic contraction in the region.

“In view of the preceding situation in relation to the minimum wage issue, the Board decided, as a collegial body, to defer its decision on the petition of Federation of Free Workers, without prejudice, however, to any further action the FFW, or any other concerned labor sector groups may deem appropriate,” RTWPB-4A said.

The first was last year after the eruption of the Taal Volcano, which also caused economic disruption in Calabarzon.