DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Businessmen here strongly opposed the P163 across the board wage increase proposed by a labor union’s group.
Bonifacio Tan, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry submitted its petition before the Department of Labor and Employment, opposing the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines’ proposed wage increase for the Davao region workers.
This developed as DOLE held a public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at Apo View Hotel together with labor groups and stakeholders.
DCCCII, in its petition, branded ALU-TUCP’s wage increase proposal as unsustainable.
“The board can understand why the management takes the position that an increase in the minimum wage schedule, at this time, and specifically the P163/daily across-the-board increase that has been proposed, is not sustainable,” Tan said.
Tan argued that Davao region has yet to recover from the effects of El Niño specifically those who are from the agribusiness sector.
“Instead of wage increase, the government should help the agriculture sector, and all the other sectors that suffered the El Niño directly or consequently. To reestablish themselves into viability,” he said. (davaotoday.com)
