By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) Secretary-General Wennie Sancho issued a letter to Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) board member, Atty. Dino Yulo, after their group received information claiming several beverage companies are trying to convince the SRA to reclassify high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
Sancho said the companies are seeking to reclassify HFCS from Class D, or “World Market,” to Class B, or “Domestic Market,” sweetener.
The labor advocate said they strongly oppose the conversion as they believe it would stall the recovery of the sugar industry.
“We would be back to square one, where apprehensions about displacement of workers looms large,” Sancho said.
With the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB) set to begin its public hearings for the P150 wage petition GAWA earlier filed, Sancho said the sugar industry would not be in the position to comply with wage increase, due to the low cost of sugar, if the RTWPB grants their petition./DGB, WDJ