Employers in Western Visayas have made a final minimum wage increase offer of only P10 to P30 per day, Wennie Sancho, labor representative to the wage board, said yesterday.

"Their final offer is 'as low as P10 and as high as P30.' Of course, we don't agree. It is an insult to the workers," he said. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines has a pending petition for a P75-increase in minimum wage in the region.

But Sancho said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board 6 has yet to deliberate on the employers' offer, after conducting a public hearing on a date they will set during their meeting on August 7.

Reds score
'Go Negosyo,' super regions

The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army and its political wing, the National Democratic Front, did not spare from its criticisms the government-backed "Go Negosyo" Caravan, which promotes entrepreneurship among Filipinos, and the super regions program of the Arroyo administration.

In a statement it issued yesterday, it said that such economic package is aimed to further plunder the province's natural resources and oppress Negrense laborers and farmers.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attended the "Go Negosyo sa Bacolod" on July 13 and awarded the most inspiring entrepreneurs in Bacolod and Negros Occidental. The same day, she also presided over the Infrastructure and Investment Conference of the Central Philippines Super Region at the New Bacolod- Silay Airport in Silay City. Arroyo said there will be a boost in tourism investment once roads and airports are built and energy supply is assured in the region.

PCCI calling for entries
for college BIDA search

College students who have smart business ideas can join the search for Best Business Idea and Development Award or BIDA launched by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a press release from PCCI said.

The search, spearheaded by the PCCI Training, Education, Science, and Technology Committee, is co-sponsored and supported by the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Science of Technology, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Nominations for the BIDA award is open to any group of three to five college students enrolled in business education and related programs in schools affiliated with Entrepreneurship Education Association of the Philippines, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, Philippine Council of Deans and Educators in Business and other business education program educators or students organizations, the press release said.

back to top