Labor group appeals P35 wage order

A DAY before the deadline, the Unity for Wage Increase Now (UWIN) yesterday appealed the P35 daily minimum wage increase in the National Capital Region (NCR), citing an abuse of discretion by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in issuing the wage order.

In its Memorandum of Appeal filed before the RTWPB-NCR, UWIN asked the NCR wage board to reconsider the order raising the daily minimum wage rate in Metro Manila to P1,207 by granting a P597 wage increase.

“Wherefore, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed for the NCR-Regional Wage Board to consider its July 1, 2024 declaration and declare for the living wage in the region as prayed for by the petitioner,” said UWIN.

The group said they are filing an appeal under the impression that the NCR wage board abused its power in setting the minimum wage rate adjustment.

“The said July 1, 2024 declaration of the new minimum (wage rate) in the region was marred by tantamount abuse of discretion on the member of Regional Wage Board,” said UWIN.

It questioned why the NCR wage board opted to cite as a basis the 2021 poverty threshold of the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) in issuing the latest wage order.

“It might be that in the last hearing of the petition on June 20, 2024, there is already a planned decision of P35.00 considering that the said decision was based on three years ago (2021) data of the Philippine Statistic Authority,” said UWIN.

The labor group also said the meager wage increase is simply unacceptable considering the daily hardships faced by workers.

“The additional P35 increase in the minimum wage is an insult and disgrace to what the workers have sacrificed and endured in contributing to the economy of the country,” said UWIN.

Earlier, the NCR wage board announced its decision to approve a P35 increase in the daily minimum wage rate of private sector workers in Metro Manila.

The approval will lead to wage adjustments from P610 to P645 for the non-agriculture sector and from P573 to P608 for the agriculture sector, service and retail establishments employing 15 or fewer workers and manufacturing establishments regularly employing less than 10 workers.

Under existing