Department of Labor and Employment-Region VI (DOLE-6) director, Atty. Johnson Canete, yesterday said he will fight for ‘fair pay’ for local sugarcane workers, which he said would be on par with other workers.

Canete, who was in the city for the District Tripartite Council General Assembly and Sugar Amelioration Program assessment, said a fair wage would solve the problem in the sugar industry, which is currently suffering a labor shortage as many have sought work in other fields that provide better compensation and benefits.

The local DOLE officer also said he has received complaints regarding the shortage of laborers.

He noted, sugarcane workers should have equivalent pay to others as “they are also paying and buying everything with the same prices to those being bought by other workers.”/DGB, WDJ