MANILA – Mass layoffs and closure of establishments are merely threats in order for companies to get away with providing additional salary for their employees, the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) said.
ALU-TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay made the remark after the labor group announced that it would revise its P320 petition wage hike petition to P344.
In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Tanjusay said there is an option for companies to file for exemption if they cannot provide the said salary increase.
“Dito sa batas, kung ang kompanya ay hindi niya kayang ibigay ang sahod, pwede siyang mag-file ng exemption at hindi siya pinipilit na bayaran o sundin ‘yung wage order na binigay ng Wage Board,” he said.
“So ‘yung sinasabi na magsasara, mawawalan ng trabaho, ito ay pananakot lamang sa ating lahat para hindi tayo magbigay ng substantial wage increase,” he added.
The revision of the wage hike petition to P344 is made to reflect the 6.2-percent inflation rate in the third quarter of the year.
The P320 wage hike petition the group filed in June only reflected the prevailing conditions of the first quarter inflation rate, Tanjusay said.
“Binago namin dahil ngayong September ang ating inflation rate ay umakyat kung kaya’t may ginawa kaming amendment. Ginawa namin P344. Ito ‘yung ihahain namin sa Wage Board meeting bukas,” he said.
According to Wage Order No. 15 of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board of the Department of Labor of Employment, companies who may file for exemption from increasing wages for their employees are:
- Distressed establishments
- Establishments whose total assets including those arising from loans but exclusive of the land on which the particular business entity’s office, plant and equipment are situated, are not more than P3 million;
- Retail/Service establishments employing not more than 10 workers
- Establishments adversely affected by natural calamities
Tanjusay said there is a need for a wage increase so that workers could benefit from the improvements in the business sector.
“Yun ang the whole purpose ng ating wage petition. Umuunlad ang ating ekonomiya, umuunlad ang mga negosyo, pero ‘yung mga manggagawa, sila ang tumutulong para umunlad ang ekonomiya at negosyo, ay lalong nagiging mahirap,” he said.
“Sa batas, naglagay talaga sila ng exemption para ‘yung mga maliliit na company na hindi kayang ibigay ‘yung mataas na wage increase ay pwede silang mag-file ng exemption at titignan ng Wage Board kung nararapat nga silang bigyan,” he added.
In Metro Manila, workers are currently receiving P512 a day minimum wage. If the wage hike petition is approved, employees would receive additional salary of up to P856 per day. (GMA News)
