The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board passed a resolution on Labor Day finding supervening conditions to declare a new wage hike in Western Visayas soon, Labor Regional Director Aida Estabillo said yesterday.

The resolution was needed to declare a new wage order in less than a year after the last pay hike was granted. The resolution will be submitted to the National Wages and Productivity Commission for approval, she said.

The supervening conditions that call for a new wage hike are the increase of prices of commodities and fuel in the region, she said.

Estabillo also said that a new wage hike for the region may be declared before the end of the month.

The wage board continues to conduct its consultations on the petition by the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines for a P50 daily wage hike, she said.

The RTWPB conducted consultations in Antique on April 28, Capiz on April 29 and in Aklan on April 30. The next consultation will be held in Iloilo City on May 6 and in Bacolod City on May 7, after which a final public hearing will be scheduled, she said.

Estabillo said the wage board was only conducting consultations on the bid for a P50 wage hike, as it only received the petition of the Wage Increase Solidarity-Negros for a P125 across-the-board daily wage increase on Thursday and it was not notarized.

Last year, the RTWPB approved a wage increase for Western Visayas ranging from P13 to P41 that took effect in October.

Under last year’s wage hike, P13 a day was granted for those receiving wages of P222 a day.

The P41 hike was granted to those receiving wages of P194 on a staggered basis. The first P15 daily wage increase took effect in October, another P15 after six months, and P11 is to be given on Sept. 30, 2008.*CPG

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