By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A local labor group supports calls for a proposed salary increase next year to combat rising inflation rates and the recent price hikes on basic commodities.

Wennie Sancho of the General Alliance of Workers Association said indications are showing that a wage increase is needed by workers, as inflation rates have already soared to 7.7 percent, and the purchasing power has fallen drastically.

At present, under Wage Order No. 26 issued by the National Wages and Productivity Commission which took effect on June 5, 2022, there is a one-year period wherein the existing wage order cannot be amended unless there are supervening conditions.

Sancho said that in the present situation, there are now more supervening conditions, not just because of the rising price for basic goods, but also the recent oil price hikes.

Based on his experience, Sancho said if they filed the petition for a wage increase, they would be told to determine if there are any supervening conditions.

They are also expecting that some companies will again use the reason “they are still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” in order to delay or block any wage proposals.

For now, he suggests the government give out subsidies to workers until a new wage increase order is issued./DGB, WDJ