ILOILO City – Labor groups have expressed disappointment over the P30 increase in the daily minimum wage for private workers in Region 6.
On Thursday, Nov. 16, Wage Order No. RBVI-27, which increased the daily minimum wage by P30 for private workers, took effect.
For non-agriculture/industrial/commercial sectors:
* employing more than 10 workers – old minimum wage rate (P450); new minimum wage rate (P480 or an increase of P30)
* employing 10 workers or less – old minimum wage rate (P420); new minimum wage rate (P450 or an increase of P30)
For the agriculture sector, the old minimum wage rate was P410; the new rate is P440.
The new minimum wage rates cover the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental, including the component and highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.
Rene Santiago, president of the Iloilo Pepsi Cola Workers Independent Union, expressed deep disappointment with the P30 increase, considering it far from the amount they petitioned for, which was P100.
“The increase seems too low,” said Santiago during a press conference by labor groups yesterday.
Melchor Arnel Sobremesana, president of the Iloilo Coca-Cola Plant Employees Labor Union, also expressed sadness, noting the high cost of living.
Elmer Forro, coordinator of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), highlighted the significant gap between the amount approved by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) and Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) Region 6, and their requested “wage recovery”.
“Our petition was for a P100 wage recovery because of the P88 wage erosion, meaning the lost value of the workers’ salary from June 2022 to June 2023,” said Forro.
He called for the dissolution of RTWPB-6 to allow the NWPC or the national government to decide on wage increases.
Meanwhile, Jonna Galvan, president of the Iloilo Doctors Employees Union, expressed gratitude for the P30 increase albeit they wished it would have been higher.
“It’s challenging given the tough situation, and the P30 is indeed insufficient for our daily travel, household, family, and colleagues at the hospital,” said Galvan.
Lucy Francisco from Kahublagan ng Mamumugon ng Kababainhan (Women Workers), also welcomed the P30 wage increase. However, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for the workers, especially women.
The P30 increase is even insufficient for the transportation fare of a worker commuting multiple times a day to work, she lamented.
Two labor groups in the region earlier filed petitions seeking a minimum wage increase for all workers in the private sector in the region:
* United Labor-Western Visayas (ULWV) proposed on March 3, 2023, an increase of P100 and a minimum wage of P550
* Iloilo Pepsi Cola Workers Independent Union (IPCWIU) proposed on March 20, 2023, an increase of P100 and a minimum wage of P550
Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr., director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6 6 and chairperson of RTWPB, explained that they couldn’t grant the P100 petition, considering the employers’ capacity to pay./PN
