The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines in Negros Oriental is petitioning for a P90 daily minimum wage increase, citing the wave of price increases in basic commodities and petroleum products.

Felizardo Calimpong of ALU-TUCP said they filed the petition at the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board despite the one-year ban under Republic Act 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act.

The law mandates that no petition for wage increase may be entertained by the RTWPB within one-year from the date a wage order has last been implemented, except if there are supervening conditions.

The last increase of P20 per day took effect September 2011 in Negros Oriental.

Calimpong, however, said the supervening conditions they cited in their petition are the increase in the prices of petroleum products and prime commodities.

Businessman Don Ramas-Uypitching, who represents the management sector in the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council of the province, said the petition for wage increase should not be a problem for companies that can afford to pay their employees.

But he warned that smaller businesses not doing well financially will be affected if the petition is granted, forcing them to either lay-off workers or close shops.

The RTWPB 7 is expected to issue its decision soon.

Meanwhile, members of the militant local groups took to the streets of Dumaguete City yesterday, waving placards demanding for a P125 across-the-board wage increase.

This developed despite the pronouncement of President Benigno Aquino III that the P125 salary hike cannot be implemented as this will affect investors’ confidence.

In his speech during the 110th Labor Day celebration in Malacañang, Aquino said the P125 proposed wage hike is counter-productive and will raise the prices of basic commodities and other services.

Bayan Neg. Or., however, said that 11.3 million Filipinos have no jobs, 7.1 million underemployed, and 65 percent has no assurance that jobs are available. The availability of jobs for overseas contract workers is also declining because of political hostilities in some countries in the Middle East, the group said in its press release.

It also slammed incidents of union busting, the incessant oil price increases, and the demolition of houses of urban poor.*RG

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