The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) filed several motions to dismiss on the petitions filed by different labor groups for wage increases at the NCR region with the National Capital Region’s Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) last April 2019.
A total of four petitions for wage increases were filed by the labor groups, namely BPO Industry Employees Network, Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP), Pambansang Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Manggagawa (Kilos na Manggagawa) and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).
Pursuant to Rule IV of NWPC Guidelines N0. 01, Series of 2007, Amended Rules of Procedure on Minimum Wage Fixing, it should be noted that any wage order issued by the Board may not be disturbed for a period of twelve (12) months from its effectivity, and no petition for wage increase shall be entertained within the said period. In the event, however, that supervening conditions, as extraordinary increase in prices of petroleum products and basic goods, services, demand a review of the minimum wage rates as determined by the Board and confirmed by the Commission, the Board shall proceed to exercise its wage fixing function even before the expiration of the said period.
Interestingly, it appears that the last wage order (Wage Order No. NCR-22) issued by the Board took effect on November 22, 2018. This means that the said Petitions were all filed merely around six (6) months after the effectivity of the Wage Order. As a rule, no Petition should be entertained by the Board except only for one reason, if there exist any supervening conditions.
All four petitions filed by the labor groups were based on the following grounds: supervening conditions, high inflation rate, TRAIN Law, that the minimum wage is inadequate, that there is an increase in the prices of basic commodities and services, high fuel prices and that it will increase the productivity of workers.
ECOP on the other hand, filed motions to dismiss on all four petitions on the ground that the allegations of the labor groups on the existence of a supervening event were baseless, groundless, unfounded and not supported by evidence.
As such, it is submitted that all four petitions should not be entertained and instead be dismissed outright.
Pending the decision of the Board, ECOP respectfully prayed that all motions to dismiss against the wage increases be granted.
