Still not enough

After a series of consultations with the labor and business sectors, the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board-7 finally came up with a decision on the petitions for another round of salary increase.

But those in the labor sector were disappointed when the regional wage board only granted minimum wage earners in Central Visayas an additional P13 in their cost of living allowance.

In October, the Alliance of Progressive Labor filed a P132 wage increase petition before the wage board. For its part, the Associated Labor Unions sought for a P95 daily minimum wage adjustment.

Now for the labor sector, the granting of the P13 COLA is highly unacceptable. Jose Tomongha, the labor representative to the regional wage board, said it only favors the business sector.

Partido ng Manggagawa also expressed disgust over the wage board's decision. PM spokesperson Dennis Derige said the COLA approval "cannot be felt by workers, it has no impact considering the high cost of living."

Well, it's hard to conclude whether the wage board's decision was fair. For the board, the additional P13 COLA was the best Valentine's gift that it can give to the laborers in the region.

But the labor sector has the right to complain. That is because the COLA adjustment is not really enough in this time of crisis, too small to help the workers counter the rising commodity prices.

Besides, unlike the basic salary, the management can have the discretion to terminate COLA, especially if the business is losing heavily. Granting an additional amount to the laborers' basic salaries would have been a more sensible move by the wage board.

For many, it seems the business sector has won the battle against the labor sector in the endless fight over salary adjustments. The RTWPB may have given in to the laborers' demand, but the management sector has the last laugh.