The business sector is asking for a status quo or a moratorium when it comes to wage increase as workers are now asking for a wage increase.
Pedro Rufo Soliven, PCCI (Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Regional Governor for Western Mindanao, said the economy of the region decelerated for the past two years and when it comes to the pandemic, the Philippines is not yet out of the wood as Octa Research is anticipating a surge this May.
He added, the management group already filed a resolution approved unanimously “Requesting Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) into the possibility of a status quo or moratorium on the current wage rate.”
Aside from these, he said there is no business to talk about even the alert level for Covid 19 is at level 1 since people are only buying basic needs.
Currently, the DOLE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) is conducting a hearing on the minimum wage adjustment. Last April they already conducted the hearing at Zamboanga Sibugay, Pagadian City, Dipolog City and the last hearing is scheduled on May 4, at Zamboanga City.
The Philippine Integrated Industries Labor Union Trade Union Congress of the Philippines is asking for a ₱ 210 increase in the minimum wage.
The hearing is being conducted by DOLE to hear the side of the employers and the employees.
Zamboanga Peninsula had its last wage increase last July 2018, Wage Order 20. The wage rate is at ₱ 316 per day. (R.G. Antonet A. Go)
