SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union - The Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Region I will hold region-wide public hearings to determine the pulse of the people on the minimum wage issue.

Department of Labor and Employment regional director Guerrero Cirilo, chairman of RTWPB in Region I, said the first of these public hearings will be held in Dagupan City on July 4, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Pangasinan Merchant Marine Academy audio visual room.

Similar public hearings will be conducted in La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, he said.

Cirilo said the RTWPB decided motu propio to conduct public hearings due to the clamor of workers for adjustment of their wages to at least enable them and their families to withstand the present economic crisis caused by the continuing increase in the price of oil in the world market.

However, the increase is, being opposed by employers who cited their inability to grant the wage increase at this time due to poor business that is also being affected by the economic crisis.

“The criterion on needs of workers indicates a pressure to adjust wages. However, the other criteria such as the capacity to pay of employers, comparative wages across regions and requirements of economic development appear to negate any adjustment in the prevailing minimum wage levels,” he said.

Cirilo said the views and positions to be gathered as a result of these public hearings shall provide useful information to help the Board come up with a decision on the wage issue, acceptable to all sectors concerned and responsive to the economic situation obtaining in the region.

Invited to attend the public hearings are employees, employers, consumers and members of the educational and socio-civic sector of the society.

The other members of RTWPB in Region I are Director Leonardo Quitos, Jr. of the National Economic and Development Authority, vice chairman; Director Florante Leal of the Department of Trade and Industry; Jerry Parlan and Salvador Poserio, employers’ representatives and Eliseo Florar and Demetrio Ruiz, Jr., workers’ representatives. (PNA)