DOLE conducts wage consultation in Maasin City

Different sectors have different wage rates

By Rebecca S. Cadavos

Tuesday 26th of June 2012

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, June 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), has initiated a wage issue consultation among 30 private establishments in Southern Leyte on Friday at the Maasin Country Lodge.

DOLE regional director Exequiel Sarcauga said that the wage consultation is one of the bases if there is really a need of restructuring the wages in the region.

“There is a need for information from the different private entities or employers so that the board will be guided accordingly,” he said referring to the participants to present their opinion on the new wage structure.

Director Sarcauga, chairman of the RTWB in the region disclosed that the Regional Board adopted a Board Resolution to conduct public consultations in key areas in Eastern Visayas such as Ormoc City, Calbayog City, and in Maasin City.

The new wage structure as mandated by Wage Order No RB VIII-16, effective June 1, 2011 is at P253 per day for non-agriculture sector including the additional Cost of Living Allowance. Other sectors which include the retail service, cottage and handicraft, agriculture sector, and the sugar industry sector have different wage rates.

Sarcauga in his opening message said that the function of the board is to set wages at the regional level and to conduct periodic reviews and consultations with the public on the wage issue.

On the other hand, RTWPB Secretary Florencio Aguilos presented the criteria for minimum wage fixing under Republic Act No. 6727; the current wage structure, among other economic indicators in the region, particularly in Maasin City.

“In every consultation, the board haven’t made yet the right decision,” Aguilos stated, mentioning that the employer sector will say that the wage set is high, while the labor sector will say it’s low.

“There are several factors considered for the minimum wage fixing,” Aguilos revealed, referring to the different needs of workers and their families, the capacity to pay of employers or the industry, or the fair return of capital invested in the business, the requirement for national development such as the effects of employment generation and family income, among others.

Different private businesses such as schools and colleges, bakeshops, security agencies, cooperatives, beach resorts, rural banks, including Metro-Gaisano in Maasin City and Gaisano Capital in Sogod attended the day activity. (EOT/RSC-PIA 8, Southern Leyte)