THE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) yesterday vowed to include in its deliberations for the possible issuance of a wage order for Metro Manila workers all the inputs raised by both the employers and employees’ sectors.
In a statement after holding a public hearing in Quezon City, the NCR wage board said all positions and concerns regarding a possible minimum wage increase in the region would be considered in their deliberations.
“The Board will use the inputs, insights, and positions raised during the consultations and public hearing to guide its deliberations in reaching a collegial decision on a possible wage hike for minimum wage earners in the region,” said the RTWPB-NCR.
Yesterday, representatives of the labor and management sectors in the NCR attended the public hearing held at the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) in Quezon City.
Before that, sector-specific wage consultations were also conducted, with the labor sector being consulted last May 22, while the management sector consultation took place last May 28.
“The public hearing concludes a series of consultations held as part of the board’s wage review mandate,” said the NCR wage board.
A total of eight wage petitions were filed last May 22, all of them asking for a pay increase of P555.
The petitioners are Vanson Paper Industrial Workers Union, Samahang Manggagawa sa Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp (SM-PSACC), Samahang Manggagawa ng Jardine Schindler Elevator Corp (SMJSEC), and Himlayang Pilipino Inc Labor Union (HPILU-Indipendent).
Also filing wage petitions were Kaisahang Manggagawa ng Himmel (KMH-ADLO), Pambato Cargo Forwarder Labor Union, Nagkakaisang Samahan ng mga Manggagawa ng Regan (NSMR-ADLO), and Universal Robina Corporation Employees Union-Farm Division (URCEU-ANGLO-KMU).
In a previous interview, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the NCR wage board is expected to come out with a new wage order by July.
“For the wage increase in NCR, we can expect that sometime in July because that is the anniversary date of the last wage order,” said Laguesma.
It was back on June 27, 2024 when the NCR wage board last issued a wage order for minimum wage earners, and it took effect last July 17, 2024.
