Labor says oil price hikes dissipate wage increases

Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) yesterday said the continued increase in fuel prices will water down the value of the salary adjustments recently approved by the regional wage boards.

In a statement, TUCP president Raymond Mendoza said the oil price increases are unacceptable as they eat away the benefits of the salary adjustments to be implemented in 14 regions.

“The buying power of the current wage adjustments are being dissipated by the series of previous and present extraordinary increases in prices of fuel, basic commodities, and cost of services,” said Mendoza.

“These will have no impact in lifting the lives of workers from worsening poverty caused by the pandemic crisis,” he added.

Mendoza pointed how the fuel price increases will trigger upward adjustments in the prices of basic commodities and the cost of services.

“Because of extraordinary inflation, the series of wage increase orders issued by the wage boards failed to restore the purchasing power of wages,” said Mendoza.

In recent weeks, 14 regional wage boards have issued wage orders granting minimum wage rate adjustments.

The 14 wage orders are to take effect starting this month, according to the Department of Labor and Employment. - By Gerard Naval

TUCP proposes P470 salary increase

Representatives of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines seek an across the board salary increase of P470 for the National Capital Region at the NCR wage board in Gen Malvar, St., Manila on Monday. The group urged the labor department to consider the proposed increase, which will bring the minimum wage to P1,007 per day, citing that no wage hike has been implemented in the past two years amid rising costs of living across the country. - ABS-CBN News

TUCP pleads wage hike

The ALU-TUCP has not filed any wage increase because we understand the situation. But as fuel prices continue to spike, which will affect prices of commodities and food, then we will appeal for a wage increase in the coming days or weeks

The Associated Labor Group-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) is set to demand a hike from P537 to P750 for daily minimum wage as the war between Russia and Ukraine is expected to impact the prices of the basic commodities.

The Brent crude — the global oil benchmark — has now ballooned to above $139 a barrel before easing back to below $130, but it has sent fuel pump prices to skyrocket.

Hefty price increases in fuel are to be implemented in the Philippines starting today.

Alan Tanjusay of ALU-TUCP, during a guesting in Daily Tribune’s morning program Gising Na! on Monday, said it’s about time that wages of workers are increased.

“It’s been two years now that the worker’s wage remained stagnant due to the pandemic. The ALU-TUCP has not filed any wage increase because we understand the situation. But as fuel prices continue to spike, which will affect prices of commodities and food, then we will appeal for a wage increase in the coming days or weeks,” he said.

Tanjusay said they will channel the wage increase petitions through the Wage Boards, which are under the Department of Labor and Employment, as Congress is currently in recess due for the 9 May elections.

“This is a rare situation amid this still persisting pandemic, as both employers and employees were greatly battered by the health emergencies. We are now trying to strike a balance between the need and the clamor of the workers for a wage increase, at the same time, addressing the need of businesses and employers to be able to survive the moment the Wage Board will allow our request,” he explained.

Tanjusay stated that P750 wage is a clamor among lawmakers supportive of the call.

The current minimum wage in National Capital Region is P537 that which took effect in October 2017.

- By Raffy Ayeng

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