THE KILUSANG Mayo Uno (KMU) in Southern Mindanao Region condemned the P29 daily wage increase, describing the move as an insult to minimum wage workers.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) XI announced a P29 increase in the daily minimum wage of private workers, which will take effect on March 7.
The new daily minimum wage in the region for non-agriculture is P510 from the current P481 as mandated by RB XI-22, while the agriculture sector workers will receive P505 from the current P476.
KMU stressed the wage increase highlights deep inequality and neglects the workers’ needs considering the cost of essential goods and services continues to rise.
“Fuel prices have gone up repeatedly, electricity rates remain high, and the price of basic necessities like rice, vegetables, and cooking oil has skyrocketed. Despite these worsening conditions, the wage boards continue to approve crumbs for workers while corporate profits soar,” KMU said.
Randolph Pensoy, DOLE XI regional director said the wage adjustment is based on significant changes in economic indicators.
“We have thoroughly discussed together with other government agency partners, trade and industry, and national economic development authority,” Pensoy said in a virtual presscon on Wednesday.
When asked how the P29 increase was computed, Pensoy said this is to restore the gap in the peso and upon consultations with the employee and employer sector.
Pensoy shared that the board did not receive a petition after the Notice of Public Hearing on the Minimum Wage Adjustment for Workers in the Private Sector was published on January 17.
However, during the Board’s motu proprio wage review, a petition praying for a P150 wage increase was filed by the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) on January 24.
The board recognized the petition and discussed it during the hearing, however, the official disclosed the employer sector did not approve of it due to lack of capacity.
“Dili lang man gud living wage atong tan-awonon naga base ni sa socio-economic conditions sa rehiyon, poverty threshold, peso restoration, and capacity of employers nga mohatag og sweldo,” Pensoy said.
The P29 wage increase will be the only adjustment to be added this year as guidelines or the Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Determination prohibits any adjustment within a year after an order effects.
