FOLLOWING the wage petitions filed by some labor groups, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) wants the public and the concerned sectors to understand that they have yet to deliberate on the matter.
With this, Dole 7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga asked more sectors to file position papers until Aug. 26.
“The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) cannot yet make any decision regarding the two petitions filed asking for across-the-board daily minimum wage increase in Region 7 right after the conduct of the regional public hearing,” said Sarcauga, who also chairs the RTWPB, in a press statement.
Hearing
The hearing last Thursday, Sarcauga said, aimed to guarantee that all ideas, rejoinders, issues and concerns of different sectors could be considered.
It was attended by various chapters of chamber and commerce industry as well as representatives from the wholesalers association, consumer groups, representatives from the academe, among others.
“It targets to ensure broad participation of stakeholders and other parties affected by the wage adjustment. It also helps generate data on the views or position of stakeholders on petitions for such move,” Sarcauga further explained.
Hike
He said the RTWPB will schedule a deliberation of the two wage hike petitions presented and submitted to their office.
Since last month, labor groups had been pursuing for the labor agency to grant a wage increase.
Metudio Belarmino Jr. of Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) filed for a minimum wage adjustment of P145 or a P432 daily minimum wage.
Increase
On the other hand, Arturo Barit of Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) filed for an increase of P92 or a P485 daily minimum wage in Central Visayas.
“I appreciate the arguments of the labor and management sectors. Both are equally correct and sensible. Our problem and concern now is how to create and establish balance when faced with two correct issues in order to come up with a reasonable, practical and viable solution,” Sarcauga said.
Kasambahay
Sarcauga also encouraged the sectors to include in their position papers the concerns of the kasambahay or domestic helpers.
Architect Benjamin Avila of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Robert Go of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and lawyer Manolette Dinsay of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry said during the public hearing last Thursday that any wage increase is untimely and will increase employment rate and inflation rate. - By
EARL JON M. RALLOS / SunStar
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Friday, August 14, 2015
Traders buck wage increase
Chambers of commerce in Central Visayas yesterday warned that some businesses might close shop, contributing to a high unemployment rate, if the daily minimum wage in the region is increased.
“The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is not against the wage increase because we recognize that human capital is one of the most valuable capital of the enterprise. However we don’t have the prevailing economic condition of the region in general and of Cebu in particular to support an increase as of this moment,” said Benjamin Avila, CCCI vice president.
Joy Chan, Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, pushed for an exemption from any increase.
Manolet Dinsay, who represented the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said businesses in Bohol are still trying to recover from the devastating impact of the 7.2-magnitude quake in 2013.
They presented their position paper on the proposed wage increase during the public hearing yesterday.
Two labor groups have filed a petition asking for an across-the-board increase. The Cebu Labor Coalition sought for an increase of P145 per day while the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) is asking for a P92 increase per day.
The current minimum wage in Central Visayas ranges from P275 to P340. - Fe Marie Dumaboc @cebudailynews
“The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is not against the wage increase because we recognize that human capital is one of the most valuable capital of the enterprise. However we don’t have the prevailing economic condition of the region in general and of Cebu in particular to support an increase as of this moment,” said Benjamin Avila, CCCI vice president.
Joy Chan, Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, pushed for an exemption from any increase.
Manolet Dinsay, who represented the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said businesses in Bohol are still trying to recover from the devastating impact of the 7.2-magnitude quake in 2013.
They presented their position paper on the proposed wage increase during the public hearing yesterday.
Two labor groups have filed a petition asking for an across-the-board increase. The Cebu Labor Coalition sought for an increase of P145 per day while the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) is asking for a P92 increase per day.
The current minimum wage in Central Visayas ranges from P275 to P340. - Fe Marie Dumaboc @cebudailynews
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Aquino gov’t not serious on child labor problem
A labor group on Thursday blasts the Aquino administration for its failure to curb the proliferation of child labor problem in the country.
Alan Tanjusay, spokesman of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-NAGKAISA (TUCP-NAGKAISA), said the total number of child laborers has reached to more than 5.5 million as of 2014.
Child laborers are referred to as children, who, at the tender age of 5-17 years, started working for a particular employer in a specific period of time.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) noted that in every ten working children, six were boys while four were girls.
PSA data revealed that 46.7 percent of the total child workers belong to the 15-17 year-old bracket, while 45.1 percent were 10-14 years old, and 8.2 percent were 5-9 years of age.
Under the Philippine Anti-Child Labor law, the children are not allowed to work due to their young age. But, they are forced to work due to massive poverty, said Tanjusay, which sets aside the Anti-Child Labor laws.
He added that the huge total number of child workers was sufficient basis to describe the Aquino administration as “benign” in addressing the problem.
“Right now, we consider the government effort to curb [the problem on] child laborers as benign. The government is not serious. Hindi targeted,” averred Tanjusay.
He said the government, through the collective efforts of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), are necessary to concretely addressing the problem now.
He said “it is high time for the DOLE and DSWD to dedicate common focus in creating a national program and strategy towards minimizing the number of child laborers in the country.”
Tanjusay pointed out that there is a need for the government to carry out a serious program or strategy, in order to decisively reduce the number of children who are forced to work by 250,000 every year. - Nelson S. Badilla / The Manila Times
Alan Tanjusay, spokesman of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-NAGKAISA (TUCP-NAGKAISA), said the total number of child laborers has reached to more than 5.5 million as of 2014.
Child laborers are referred to as children, who, at the tender age of 5-17 years, started working for a particular employer in a specific period of time.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) noted that in every ten working children, six were boys while four were girls.
PSA data revealed that 46.7 percent of the total child workers belong to the 15-17 year-old bracket, while 45.1 percent were 10-14 years old, and 8.2 percent were 5-9 years of age.
Under the Philippine Anti-Child Labor law, the children are not allowed to work due to their young age. But, they are forced to work due to massive poverty, said Tanjusay, which sets aside the Anti-Child Labor laws.
He added that the huge total number of child workers was sufficient basis to describe the Aquino administration as “benign” in addressing the problem.
“Right now, we consider the government effort to curb [the problem on] child laborers as benign. The government is not serious. Hindi targeted,” averred Tanjusay.
He said the government, through the collective efforts of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), are necessary to concretely addressing the problem now.
He said “it is high time for the DOLE and DSWD to dedicate common focus in creating a national program and strategy towards minimizing the number of child laborers in the country.”
Tanjusay pointed out that there is a need for the government to carry out a serious program or strategy, in order to decisively reduce the number of children who are forced to work by 250,000 every year. - Nelson S. Badilla / The Manila Times
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Bill allowing foreigners to join unions passed on 2nd reading
MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill, allowing foreign individuals or organizations to join trade unions in the Philippines.
"The measure shall promote the solidarity of workers and their organizations, whether inside or outside the country, or both," Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, chairman of the sponsoring Committee on Labor and Employment said.
On the other hand, TUCP partylist Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, author of House Bill 5886, said the Philippines should adhere to the principle of equal treatment of migrant workers and national workers as regards to trade union membership and collective bargaining.
The bill seeks to amend Presidential Decree 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines.
"The right to self-organization is a universal human and worker's right. The Philippines recognizes the right to self-organization, with the ratification of ILO (International Labor Organization) Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association," Mendoza said.
Under the measure, all aliens, natural or juridical, as well as foreign organizations with valid permits issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), may engage directly or indirectly in all forms of trade union activities but only through normal contacts between Philippine labor unions and recognized international labor centers.
Foreign workers in the country with valid permits issued by the DOLE may exercise the right to self-organization and join or assist labor organizations of their own choice for purposes of collective bargaining.
The bill also provides that foreign individuals, organizations or entities may give donations, grants or other forms of assistance, in cash or in kind, directly or indirectly, to any labor organization, group of workers or any auxiliary, such as cooperatives, credit unions and institutions engaged in research, education or communication, in relation to trade union activities. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)
"The measure shall promote the solidarity of workers and their organizations, whether inside or outside the country, or both," Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, chairman of the sponsoring Committee on Labor and Employment said.
On the other hand, TUCP partylist Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, author of House Bill 5886, said the Philippines should adhere to the principle of equal treatment of migrant workers and national workers as regards to trade union membership and collective bargaining.
The bill seeks to amend Presidential Decree 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines.
"The right to self-organization is a universal human and worker's right. The Philippines recognizes the right to self-organization, with the ratification of ILO (International Labor Organization) Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association," Mendoza said.
Under the measure, all aliens, natural or juridical, as well as foreign organizations with valid permits issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), may engage directly or indirectly in all forms of trade union activities but only through normal contacts between Philippine labor unions and recognized international labor centers.
Foreign workers in the country with valid permits issued by the DOLE may exercise the right to self-organization and join or assist labor organizations of their own choice for purposes of collective bargaining.
The bill also provides that foreign individuals, organizations or entities may give donations, grants or other forms of assistance, in cash or in kind, directly or indirectly, to any labor organization, group of workers or any auxiliary, such as cooperatives, credit unions and institutions engaged in research, education or communication, in relation to trade union activities. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)
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