Tripartite board to discuss non-wage benefit for workers
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board VI (RTWPB VI) will try to find more ways to help workers and their families cope with the continued increases of oil and other commodities through the provision of non-wage benefits.
Atty. Calixto Valaquio, Secretary of the RTWPB VI, disclosed to the Philippine Information Agency that the "Diskwento Presyong Pang-Empleyado" project will be included in the matters to be discussed when the board convenes this week in Bacolod City.
RTPWB VI is composed of the Regional Directors of government agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Economic and Development Authority and Department of Trade and Industry and two representatives each from the management and worker groups.
The "Diskwento Presyong Pang-Empleyado" project was recently launched by the DOLE through the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) in response to the call of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to provide non-wage benefits to employees and their families as income extenders.
In cooperation with the DTI, the project aims to improve worker's access to basic consumer products at affordable prices. This also intends to involve the private sector in delivering affordable basic and prime commodities to employees.
"The project aims to ease the burden of high and rising prices of basic consumer products on the employees' purchasing power and to improve employees' access to basic and prime commodities through the mobilization of retail outlets selling basic food and non-food consumer items at low, low prices," said Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito Roque in a Malacanang report.
Roque added that the provision of non-wage benefits to workers is their agency's immediate response to the clamor of minimum wage earners for another possible wage increase due to erosion of purchasing power brought about by inflation and the continuing price increase in oil products and other commodities. (PIA)