Cebu Labor Coalition Seeks P145 Daily Basic Pay Hike in Central Visayas

A coalition of labor unions and labor groups in Cebu has filed a petition for a PHP145 across the board increase in the minimum daily wage in Central Visayas.

The Cebu Labor Coalition (Celac) said wage earners in the region need the increase to cope with increases in prices of basic commodities, tuition and medicines.

The minimum daily wage in the region ranges from PHP275 to PHP340.

The wage hike petition was filed before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 7.

Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga, RTWPB 7 chairman, said the petition will be taken up in a board meeting and presented during public hearings.

Celac is composed of the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), Cebu Midtown Hotel Employees’ Union (CMHEU), Lonbisco Employees’ Organization (LEO), Mactan Electric Company Employees’ Independent Union (MEIU), NUWHRAIN Montebello Chapter and the Shemberg Employees’ Independent Union and Sentro.

Metudio Belarmino Jr., Celac Living Wage Coalition spokesman, said 2015 is the 26th year of the implementation of Republic Act 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act, which left to the wage boards the power to set the floor wage, rather than on national legislation.

The Celac petition said it is also about time for the RTWPB 7 to assess and evaluate its “failure to provide substantial and significant wage increase for the workers.”

The RTWPB 7 last increased the basic pay in the region in November 2014, when it ordered a PHP13 a day hike in Bohol and 10 towns and a city in northern Cebu.

The same order incorporated to the basic pay the cost of living allowance of PHP13 per day in the rest of the region which it had granted in February 2014.

Bohol and the 11 other areas were at first excluded as employers were still recovering from the earthquake on October 15, 2013 and super typhoon Yolanda on Nov. 8, 2013. (PNA) LAP/EB/SSC