Consultations in CenVis for Wage Hike Petitions Set

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-7) and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-7) scheduled a series of wage consultations and public hearing in Central Visayas.

According to DOLE-7 Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga, who is at the same time acting as the Chairman of Board, the wage consultations will tackle the petitions for minimum wage increase filed before the office of RTWPB-7.

He added that there are three wage hike petitions which will be subjected to public consultations.

The first petitioner is the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) seeking for a P161  across-the-board daily wage increase in Region 7.

The Sentro or Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), the second petitioner, sought for a P140  across-the-board daily wage increase.

The Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers’ Union (PACIWU-TUCP) also filed for a wage increase of P101.34, P90.61, and P86.87 per day for all workers in the private sector of Negros Island Region (NIR).

According to Board Secretary Grace Carreon, Negros Oriental is still under the jurisdiction of RTWPB-7 up to present.

She added that all interested parties who might wish to oppose the aforesaid petitions may file their oppositions before the Board prior to the scheduled date of the Regional Public Hearing.

“Concerned parties may request that before the date of the Public Hearing, they be furnished with copies of the petitions by the petitioners,” she said, adding that any interested party may examine the petitions and other pertinent records filed at the office of RTWPB during the usual business hours.

The first wage consultation will be on November 9 at Sarrosa International Hotel & Residential Suites, Mabolo, Cebu City.

On November 16, another wage consultation will be conducted in Bogo City, which will be followed by the same event scheduled to take place on 25 November in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

The last leg of the series of wage consultations be in Dumaguete City on 2 December 2016.

Apart from the wage hike petitions, also to be discussed during the public consultations is the wage rate of domestic helpers or Kasambahay  in the Region.

Based on a survey, the current average wage rate of domestic helpers in Region 7 is at P2,500.

When all wage consultations are done,  Sarcauga said the board and other stakeholders involved will convene again on December 9 for the Regional Public Hearing at Sarrosa International Hotel & Residential Suites, Mabolo, Cebu City.

The public hearing, he said, aims to ensure that the respective ideas, rejoinders, issues, and concerns of different sectors could be put in place.

“It targets to ensure broad participation of stakeholders and other parties affected by wage adjustment. It also helps generate data on the views or position of stakeholders on petitions for such move,” Director Sarcauga clarified.

Currently, the Wage Board is composed of the following: Sarcauga as Chairman; Director Efren Carreon of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-7) and Director Asteria Caberte of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) as Vice-Chairmen; Atty. Ernesto Carreon and Mr. Jose Tomongha as Labor Representatives; and Atty. Hidelito Pascual and Philip Tan as Management Representatives. (rmn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu/DOLE-7)