Wage board urges sectors to file position papers on legislated wage hike
The Regional Tripartite Wage Board (RTWB) in the region is asking various sectors to file their position papers on the proposed legislated wage hike pending in Congress now, under House Bill 345.
Dir. Calixto Valaquio of the RTWB 6 said they have their ears "close to the ground" in feeling the pulse of the various sectors about the 125 across-the-board legislated wage increase so that the office can bring to the national level the consolidated position of the region.
He said the board supports the Arroyo administration's directive to work closely with business and labor to come up with a win-win options on the matter of wage and non-wage benefits and see to it that the system should work well, as it has been, especially here in the region.
President Arroyo has been continuously pushing the tripartite wage boards to take up wage increases in various regions and sectors, and wages have already been calibrated up in several cases.
The government sees the regional wage boards in the position to very well determine the proper context of wage hikes that would be best to the regional economy,the viability of enterprises, and the welfare of workers.
(PIA 6/ESS)