4-day work week opposed

A PROPOSAL to implement a four-day work week in government offices in Metro Manila was shot down Monday by a militant labor group, saying the scheme will only create problems for workers.

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said the scheme, which increases the daily working hours from eight to 10, will affect employees' health and violate their rights.

It is also unfavorable to workers who are paid on a daily basis and are subject to a "no work, no pay" policy, the group said.

"Unlike their monthly counterparts, daily paid workers are paid on actual days rendered. So the possibility is that they would be paid based on the number of days actually worked and not by the number of man hours spent," said KMU chairperson Elmer Labor in a text message to Sun.Star.

When applied to private sector workers, some employers may take advantage of the opportunity to cut workers’ wages further, according to KMU.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said it will support the shorter work week provided employers will consult workers before implementation and there is no dimunition of salary and benefits.

"It has advantages and disadvantages and it cannot be implemented in some industries or sectors such as manufacturing," said TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay.

The four-day work week is seen by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) as a tool to ease heavy traffic along Metro Manila's roads, enhance productivity and promote work-life balance among employees by increasing the number of workers' rest days and time for their families.

"Instead of addressing the causes of heavy traffic, the Aquino government is passing the burden of the problem to workers and ordinary Filipinos. Instead of improving mass transport system to reduce the volume of private vehicles plying the streets, it is implementing a scheme that's bad for workers' health," Labog said.

It would be up to government agencies to heed the CSC's recommendation as policemen, firemen and hospital staff are deemed excluded from the scheme because of their heavy interaction with the public. (Sunnex)By Virgil B. Lopez SunStar

RTWPB 7 sets 2 hearings on Cola-wage integration

THE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 7 will conduct two public hearings this month to get the sentiment of the labor sector on the proposal to integrate the P13 cost-of-living allowance (Cola) in the basic wage.

RTWPB 7 labor sector representative Jose Tomungha said that the hearings are set on Oct. 13 in Bohol and Oct. 14 in Cebu City.

Tomungha said that RTWPB 7 will deliberate the inputs from the participants and the result of the public hearings on Oct. 15 and 21.

Tomungha said that the labor coalitions in Cebu are also now conducting research on the amount of the wage increase that could be filed by the workers in May 2015.

He said May 2015 is just seven months away that’s why it is appropriate to start the research now.

Early this year, the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) filed a petition for a P90 across-the-board wage increase, while the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) wanted an increase of P132 per day.

The regional wage board, however, only granted a P13 Cola for workers that dismayed Tomungha and other labor sector representative, lawyer Ernesto Carreon.

RTWPB 7 is co-chaired by the director of the Department of Labor and Employment 7 and the director of the Department of Trade and Industry.

The RTWPB 7 members who also voted for the Cola are the director of the National Economic and Development Authority 7 and two representatives of the management sector.

With the P13 Cola on top of the P327 basic wage, the total minimum compensation now of a minimum wage worker is P340.

The decision of RTWPB 7 was affirmed by the National Wage Commission and it took effect last March 21, 15 days after it was published in a newspaper of general circulation last March 6.

Tomungha said that unlike Cola, which can be removed from the payroll anytime, a basic pay is permanent under the labor law. - By Elias O. Baquero / SunStar

Power supply disclosure sought

A labor group on Wednesday challenged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and Department of Energy (DOE) to disclose their power supply data, saying that a lot of available power is being concealed amid allegations of an impending power shortage in 2015.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa said the ERC has not spoken about an impending power shortage in 2015, even as the DOE is all over the place announcing a 300 megawatt deficit that can climb to 800 megawatt.

“We stressed the importance of correct data in undertaking power policy. If DOE has incorrect data, then the wrong arguments are being advanced and that’s is why fale solutions which are very expensive such as gas turbines, power barges, and generator sets are now being prioritized,” the TUCP said in a statement.

TUCP-Nagkaisa said DOE’s proposal of contracting P12 billion of capacity—300 megawatt genset or power barge plus 300 megawatt reserve—would mean a 50-centavo per kilowatt hour increase to be borne by consumers nationwide for two years.

“We warned that an increase in the price of power is sure to create an inflationary domino effect. Power is not a “stand alone” issue,” the TUCP said.

“Take the matter of workers disposable incomes which are constantly being erode by high price of power. A 24-month period where power rates are jacked up by 50 centavos per kilowatt hour which does not yet factor in additional generation, transmission and distribution charges is sure to wreak havoc on the already meager salaries of workers. It will surely trigger an increase in the prices of basic goods and services, we will be left with no other response except to seek an increase in wages.” - By Vito Barcelo / Manila Standard

TUCP-Nagkaisa challenges DOE and ERC to disclose true reserve power

A Press Statement by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa)

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) challenged both the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and Department of Energy (DOE) to disclose their power supply data.
If the ERC which is supposed to be the independent power regulator has not spoken about an impending power shortage in 2015, even as the DOE is all over the place announcing a 300 megawatt deficit that can climb to 800 megawatt. Perhaps the ERC is aware of the existence of other sources of power.
We stressed the importance of correct data in undertaking power policy. If DOE has incorrect data, then the wrong arguments are being advanced and that’s is why false solutions which are very expensive such as gas turbines, power barges, and generator sets are now being prioritized.
TUCP-Nagkaisa pointed out that the DOE proposal of contracting P12 billion of capacity – 300 megawatt genset or power barge with another 300 megawatt as reserve – will translate into easily a 50-centavo per kilowatt hour increase to be borne by all power consumers nationwide for two years. This will be an additional burden that workers and consumers can ill afford.
On the other hand, the TUCP-Nagkaia said that here are perhaps other more cost-effective solutions such as the Interruptible Load Program.

We are not comfortable with the ILP because it smacks of Meralco consumers subsidizing business and malls running their own generators to power up their airconditioning and electricity powered operations. However, it might, in the short run, be the least cost solution and power barges which are so expensive. It’s just like buying 15 reserve tires when all you need is 1 for your car.

There is 1,300 mw of ILP out there. The question is who is campaigning for ILP participants to come on board to address the power crisis. Or is the DOE leaving the negotiating to Meralco? We can safely assume that it is being left entirely up to Meralco and that the DOE is again abdicating on its responsibilities. What has the DOE has done? Have they requested the President and the economic cluster of the cabinet to campaign with the potential ILP participants to open themselves to the ILP?
TUCP-Nagkaisa projections factor in ILP using diesel at P45 per liter as costing the consumers only an additional 10 centavos per kilowatt hour. You will have the added advantage that the 10 centavo increase will only be for the months you actually use ILP which can be as little as 3 months. Also, only customers in Luzon will be burdened, sparing Visayas and Mindanao.
TUCP-Nagkaisa has also advanced the adoption of corporate-wid – and not just voluntary – demand-side management (DSM). Raising airconditioning by 1 degree will result in less demand for power and free up capacity.
We are looking at DSM where industrial operations will be compensated for running at off-peak hours. Why doesn’t ERC and DOE look to a solution that will not bring up power rates and that will lower carbon emission.

“But the first thing is to get the data right. Even now TUCP suspects that a lot of available power is being concealed. Take the retail suppliers who are providing the power needs of big industrial and commercial power users. Only 60% of the total capacity they have is under take-or-pay contracts with these large users. Where is the rest of the 40%? Are they just waiting for ERC to lift its current cap on prices in the WESM? And there is no more cap they will bid in?”

TUCP has conditionally supported the grant of emergency powers as long as it does not increase power rates. We warned that an increase in the price of power is sure to create an inflationary domino effect. Power is not a “stand alone” issue.
Take the matter of workers disposable incomes which are constantly being erode by high price of power. A 24-month period where power rates are jacked up by 50 centavos per kilowatt hour which does not yet factor in additional generation, transmission and distribution charges is sure to wreak havoc on the already meager salaries of workers. It will surely trigger an increase in the prices of basic goods and services, we will be left with no other response except to seek an increase in wages. - Samar News