The Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board VI labor representative Winnie Sancho last week urged employers and the local government units to give emergency relief to workers to stave off the debilitating effects of high prices of rice and other basic commodities.
BY KARL G. OMBION
LABOR WATCH
Bulatlat
Vol. VIII, No. 12, April 27-May 3, 2008
The Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board VI labor representative Winnie Sancho last week urged employers and the local government units to give emergency relief to workers to stave off the debilitating effects of high prices of rice and other basic commodities.
Sancho made this public appeal amid the continuing debates between the labor and employers’ camps over workers’ demand for wage hikes as well as non-cash benefits.
Immediate relief
“While the issue of how much workers’ wages should be increased is being debated, it is imperative that our workers must be given some emergency relief and support like non-cash benefits, cash advances, tax cuts, farm lots, farm tools and inputs, and livelihood projects to be able to cope up with the economic hardships brought by the soaring of prices of basic commodities,” Sancho said.
Sancho said that while there is already a petition from some Negros Occidental labor groups for a P50 ($1.189 at an exchange rate of $1=P42.04) wage increase, the employers and the local government units must give some emergency support for the workers because the demand for wage hike will still go through a tedious and often frustrating process for the labor sector.
He said it will take at least two months to finalize the new wage order, and added that if ever a new wage hike is approved, it will take a few months before it could take effect. “In the meantime, our workers will continue to agonize in economic hardships,” Sancho said.
“In fact, per our study, the workers in Western Visayas need at least an immediate P80.00 ($1.90) adjustment in their salary to be able to cope for now,” he added.
Sancho also revealed that his office has been getting appeals from various labor groups for immediate support because they could hardly cope anymore with their daily meals, while some have been begging for rice, sardines and noodles.
“Some seasonal and contractual farm workers have sought my help for the use of government and private idle farm lots and other farm inputs so they could grow food crops for their survival,” he added.
Sancho said he will make representations to some business groups and local government units for their possible immediate relief assistance to the workers.
Wage hike exemption for business
Meanwhile, Sancho warned that as in the past, majority or 60-80 percent of businesses in Region VI will likely get exemption from a new wage hike being processed by the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB).
