Reclassify minimum wage workers: W. Visayas employers

BACOLOD CITY -- Employers in Western Visayas have sought the reclassification of minimum wage workers as the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) is set to start salary hike hearings next week.

Negrense labor leader Wennie Sancho, workers’ sector representative to RTWPB 6 (Western Visayas), said he learned about the management sector’s position paper during the board’s regular meeting held in Iloilo City on Thursday.

Sancho noted that the employers want to reclassify the workers based on their number in a workplace -- whether 10 and below, or 11 and above, among others.

“In this classification, the more the number of the employees, the lower the increase they will receive,” he said.
He added that such a classification scheme is complicated considering that “whether the number of workers is lower or higher, they all have the same basic needs -- they all consume goods.”

Under Wage Order No. 24, there are two wage rates depending on various classifications or categories.

Workers in non-agriculture, industrial and commercial establishments with more than 10 employees receive a minimum wage of PHP365 daily.

Those employed in firms with 10 workers and below get PHP295.

In the agriculture sector, both plantation and non-plantation workers receive PHP295.

Sancho said they welcome the position of the management, and don’t see it as some sort of opposition.

“It will be explained during the scheduled public hearings starting August 23,” he added.

Sancho said a representative of the Philippine Statistics Authority validated that there was indeed a slight upward movement in the region’s inflation rate and consumer price index (CPI).

The figures support the labor’s computation that the current purchasing power of the workers is PHP0.82 based on the CPI of PHP121.40, he said.

“The higher inflation and erosion of the workers’ purchasing power merits the increase of minimum wage,” Sancho added.

The New and Independent Workers Organization, a rank-and-file union of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. – Bacolod, headed by Emmanuel Bandola, filed the petition for PHP50 to PHP60 wage increase on July 1 as Wage Order No. 24 already expired last July 16.

The first public hearing will be held in Iloilo City on August 23, then in Bacolod City on September 6; and Boracay Island, Aklan on September 20.

After the hearings, the board will hold the deliberations on October 1, 4, 10, and 11. (PNA)

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