TWO business organizations in Iligan City opposed the wage increase petition due to the power problem and slow tourist arrivals in the city, according to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)
The RTWPB conducts a series of public consultations and hearings since Monday.
Lawyer Johnson Cañete, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Northern Mindanao and chairman of the wage board, said the Iligan Hospital Associations and Iligan Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association (Iharra) opposed the new minimum wage adjustments.
In their position paper submitted to the wage board, Iharra mentioned their support for fair and just wage to the Iliganon workforce.
Among the considerations raised by Iharra is the double decline of tourist arrivals in the city compared to its neighboring areas in the region plus the ongoing fluctuation of power supply that greatly affects their operations.
“In as much as we want to consider the minimum wage…we don’t want to resort to lay off employees in order to meet the demands of this petition to increase the minimum wage,” the position paper stated.
Cañete said his office is expecting to receive more position papers before the deliberations start in May.
Meanwhile, the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc (Oro Chamber) in its position paper stated that its member companies are amenable to a P12.00 increase of minimum wage per day “as a more balanced and affordable salary increase across the region.”
Lordilie Enjambre, Oro Chamber’s executive director, said such increase would help those affected by typhoons Sendong and Pablo.
Enjambre said the business sector have even suggested increase in rates ranging from P10 to as much as P30. She said some suggested to a P14 increase to have the minimum wage set to P300 per day.
The Oro Chamber also recommended for a provisional amendment of the Labor Code “which does not encourage a freer employer-employee wage adjustment based on performance and productivity.”
Meanwhile, the Ozamiz Chamber of Commerce and Industry only proposes a P5 wage increase.
Nicandro Borja, vice-president of Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), said the P12-peso wage proposal of Oro Chamber is unacceptable citing that typhoon Sendong and Pablo isn’t a good justification.
“Every year there is increase in the basic commodities and P12 increase can’t compensate the needs of the workers in the region in these trying times,” Borja said.
