DOLE sees no wage hike for WV workers
With a few weeks to go before the celebration of the Labor Day, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) foresaw no “good news” among the workers in Western Visayas.
DOLE-VI assistant regional director Crispin Dunnog, Jr. claimed that he has not heard reports of a possible wage increase.
In a press conference yesterday for the Labor Day celebration on May 1, Dunnog claimed a tripartite hearing is still done in some parts of the region for the proposed wage increase.
“I’m not part of the consultation but I think, we don’t expect a wage hike come Labor Day,” he added.
Two months ago, DOLE regional director Aida Estabillo also foresaw a bleak chance of a wage increase.
She added that the petition for a P50 minimum wage increase among laborers in Western Visayas filed by the Trade Union of Filipino Workers met opposition from the employers’ sectors.
“Normally, the workers are for the increase while the employers would oppose to it,” said DOLE regional director Aida Estabillo.
During the public hearing conducted by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Iloilo City and Bacolod City, the employers’ group like the Bacolod City Chamber of Commerce and the Iloilo Business Club begged off that they could not give the P50 pay hike for now.
Further, Dunnog explained that DOLE has no authority to come up with a wage order or a wage decree without consulting all affected parties.
“So, after the results of wage hearing or consultation but if it shows that if it cannot be done, there is no wage increase unless there are compelling reasons for the wage increase,” he added.
Dunnog added that it is important to balance the requirements of the employers who invest a lot and need of the workers primarily on what they could buy with their minimum wage.
But while DOLE is not giving too much hope for the increase in minimum wage, it announced that the Department is providing non-wage benefits
“We’re assisting labor unions to have their own income-generating projects. We still have the funds and we do assist them in preparing project proposals and feasibility projects,” he added.
DOLE assist labor unions in business activities in a form of cash grant.
They usually require the company to have an equity of 10% on the cash grant while the labor union is expected to have a counterpart in terms of labor, equipment, or cash.
