Labor leader backs calls for salary hike next year
NEGROS. Sugarcane workers are among those who need a salary hike to keep abreast with the increasing prices of commodities. (TDE/File photo)
General Alliance of Workers Association (Gawa) secretary general Wennie Sancho said indications are showing that a wage increase is needed for the country’s workers as inflation rates have already soared to 7.7 percent, and the purchasing power of workers and consumers has fallen drastically.
But for now, Sancho suggests to the government to give out subsidies to workers until a new wage increase order could be issued.
At present, under Wage Order No. 26 issued by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) that took effect on June 5 of this year, there is a one-year period wherein the existing wage order cannot be amended unless there are supervening conditions.
Sancho stressed that currently, there are more supervening conditions, not just because of the rising price of basic goods, but also the recent oil price hikes on gasoline that necessitates the wage hike.
Based on experience, Sancho said if they filed a petition for a wage increase, they would be told that there is a need to determine if there are any supervising conditions before it is granted.
He lamented, however, that some companies will again use the reason that, “they are still recovering from the pandemic,” in order to delay or block any wage proposals.
Disclaimer
SunStar website welcomes friendly debate, but comments posted on this site do not
necessarily reflect the views of the SunStar management and its affiliates. SunStar reserves the right to
delete, reproduce, or modify comments posted here without notice. Posts that are inappropriate will
automatically be deleted.
Forum Rules
Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the
discussion. Be coherent. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!
