Labor Undersecretary Manuel G. Imson, DoLE spokesman, said the government will give its allout support to the calls of labor for a wage hike amidst rising prices of goods and services brought about by the unabated rise in world oil prices.

Imson said the RTWPBs are now conducting consultations and deliberations on possible wage hike.

"President Arroyo, in her Labor Day message, explicitly expressed her support for a reasonable wage hike hammered out by the DoLE’s RTWPBs," he said.

He said the government has acknowledged the need to alleviate the burdens of the Filipino workers due to the rising cost of living brought about by high oil prices.

"At the same time, the government shares the concerns of the business sector over the impact of the oil prices on business and employment. The President has recognized the need for all sides, including labor and employers to reach a middle ground to enable both sectors and the entire country cope with rising oil prices," Imson said.

The labor undersecretary said that through the RTWPBs, a middle ground could be reached as these boards are well represented by tripartite constituents — the government, labor and management.

"Under Republic Act 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act, each board, chaired by the DoLE regional director, has two representatives each from labor and management as well as from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), who help determine the extent of wage adjustments in accordance with the employers’ capability and the prevailing economic situation," Imson said.

He said that the wage boards in NCR and Regions 6, 7, 10, and 11 have started evaluating the merits of the petitions.

"In the absence of a petition for wage hike, the wage boards in other regions may also initiate a new wage order ‘motu propio’ if it is warranted," Imson said. "The wage boards continuously monitor economic conditions and may issue new wage orders even without petitions for wage hike to alleviate the plight of minimum wage earners in their respective regions. This underscores the collective concern including that of the government for the welfare of the workers," he said.

Imson said the RTWPB in four regions has already received petitions for wage increases. He said the four wage petitions were filed before RTWPB in Regions 6, 7, 10 and 11. Region 6 was first to receive the petition from Trade Union Congress of the Philippines affiliates National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines, Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers Union and Congress of Independent OrganizationsALU, he said. The group is seekinf a R75 across-theboard wage increase.

"The Alliance of Progressive Labor, also filed its petition for a P95 across-the-board wage increase before the RTWPB in Region 7 last March 1. The same group based in Region 11 filed a similar petition seeking for P150 across-the-board wage hike," Imson said.

He added the RTWPB in Region 10 received a petition from ALU-TUCP seeking for a R75 wage increase. "For those who have not received any wage petitions, the board may issue a new wage order ‘motu proprio’ if it is warranted, as soon as all procedures are completed, and where the economic conditions in the regions so warrant, the regional boards can actually come up with a wage order within 30 days," Imson said. "Almost all of the 17 wage orders issued last year were promulgated in June 2005, hence the 12-month prohibition period would be completed by then," he said.

Meanwhile, National Wages and Productivity Commission Executive Director Rebecca J. Calzado said that contrary to the allegations of some labor groups, the regional boards have been responsive and sensitive to the plight of the Filipino workers in its mandate of issuing wage orders.

"Since the establishment of RTWPBs in 1990, a total of 170 wage orders were issued of which 104 or 61 percent were motu proprio or despite the absence of a wage petition," Calzado said.

As this developed, Malacañang yesterday reiterated that the tripartite regional wage boards are better mechanisms in determining wage increases than proposals to increase wages through the legislative process.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye also defended Malacañang from criticisms that the administration’s decision not to support a legislated across-the-board wage hike demonstrates its anti-worker policies.

Bunye said critics of the administration’s position on the proposed legislated wage hike "are not the ones who generate employment" or relief to wage workers.

"Any increase is welcome but the regional wage boards should be the ones to determine these increases," Bunye said in a press briefing. (with a report by David Cagahastian)

Nograles: Workers will still have to wait for minimum pay hike

By EDMER F. PANESA

Despite last week’s approval on second reading of the proposed R125 legislated wage hike by the House of Representatives, House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles yesterday said it would still take some time before minimum wage earners in the private sector could finally get hold of the much needed increase in their daily income.

"We will still have nominal voting for that. It’s up to the members whether to approve it or not. We’ll see before we adjourn sine die," Nograles said.

The lawmaker from Davao City issued the statement after Malacañang favored an increase determined by regional wage boards than a Congress-approved legislated wage hike and after employers’ groups opposed the House move.

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Francis Escudero appealed to Malacañang and the employers to let the workers take pleasure from the legislated wage hike after enduring the 12 percent value added tax and other "unpopular" tax measures passed by Congress last year.

"Nakikiusap kami sa Malacañang na huwag nang hadlangan ang pagtaas ng sahod. Iyung additional VAT at kaakibat nitong pagtaas ng mga panunahing bilihin, hindi rin komportable ang taumbayan dyan," Escudero said in a press conference.

"Kung hindi itataas ang sweldo, saan kukunin ng taumbayan ang pambayad sa mas mataas na buwis at mga bilihin?" he asked.

In the same press conference, opposition Rep. Rolex Suplico of Iloilo hit Malacañang for maintaining its position that the RTWPBs are better mechanisms in determining wage increases than the proposals to increase wages through legislation.

In the Senate, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, yesterday pledged to take immediate action as soon as the House of Representatives formally transmits the proposed R125 legislated wage increase for ordinary Filipino workers nationwide.

Estrada, who belongs to the Senate minority bloc, made the pledge as President Arroyo rejected a R125 legislated wage hike, a petition she claimed would be best resolved by the various Regional Wage and Productivity Boards (RWPBs).

"I will act on it, and probably pass it. But I will have to wait for the House (version). When the time comes that it reaches the Senate, I will immediately tackle it by hook or by crook," he told Senate reporters at the start of the session yesterday.

The Arroyo administration has left to the RWPBs the decision on how much increase should be granted to the ordinary Filipino workers who are already overly-burdened by the increase in the prices of basic commodities due to world’s oil price hikes.

Estrada, who donned a Gloria Resign-embroidered white linen polo barong at yesterday’s session, said he might even increase the legislated wage from R125 as approved by the House to R150 in a staggered basis.

He said his committee might come up with a formula of R50 wage increase for this year, another R50 for next year, and the last R50 for 2008.

Estrada was, however, mum on the deleterious effects of his plan to raise futher the wages by R150, unmindful of Neri’s stern warning of unemployment, higher inflation, and lower economic growth that the country would suffer once the measure is passed. (with a report by Ferdie DJ. Maglalang)