COPW chairman Raul T. Concepcion said the Wage Boards must act now before Congress reconvenes on July 24 otherwise the body will pass the P125 staggered wage hike across the board. Congress failed to pass the wage bill when it adjourned last Thursday.

Concepcion has called for a public hearing among employers, labor groups and the government as facilitator must be held to approve the P125 wage hike.

He explained that given the continuing increase in prices, it is most likely that clamor for wage hikes would be higher than the P125 staggered increase by 2008.

"Considering that the Wage Board did not come up with a report on the Consumer Price Index on July 2005 after the one year anniversary of the wage order, the staggered wage increase will ensure that regardless of the movement upwards or downwards on the Consumer Price Index, the staggered increase maybe a preferred option," Concepcion said.

The last wage order was on June 23, 2004 granting a P70 emergency allowance of P50 to NCR-09 and P20 for NCR-09.

Based on House Bill 345, the P125 staggered wage increase over a three year would be implemented in October this year with P45, in 2006 with P40 and the remaining P40 in 2008. This means that daily minimum wage earners in NCR would be having P425 daily wage by 2008 from the current P300 wage level.

"In addition, we would be ensure of peace in the next three years," he stressed.

Concepcion, however, stressed the wage hike should not be across the board and it is up for the Wage Boards to set the exclusions.

Thus, during the scheduled July 21 public hearing on wage hike by the NCR Wage Board, the organized labor will submit its petition for a wage increase.

Likewise, the employer sector will submit their position and exemptions for those failing in the distressed industries category or establishments facing potential losses.

Industries seeking for exemptions from a new wage order should be required to justify why such potential loss, Concepcion said. (BCM)