The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Central Visayas (CV) is expected to decide by the third week of September whether to increase the region’s minimum wage, following the launch of public hearings Tuesday.

Atty. Roy Buenafe, chairman of the wage board, said testimony from the Cebu City hearing indicated that the business sector was not strongly opposed to a wage increase, with some employers describing a potential raise as a “measured adjustment.”

“The board saw that there was not much reluctance on the part of the business sector,” Buenafe said. “Their main concern is that the adjustment should be minimal, just enough to address the crisis while also allowing us to observe our economic performance.”

Buenafe added that the board will balance the needs of both labor and business, relying heavily on socioeconomic data from government agencies such as the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development.

Meanwhile, labor groups are pushing for significant increases. The BPO Industry Employees Network Cebu renewed its call fwor a P1,200 daily minimum wage for all private sector workers in the region.

“This is not exclusive to workers in the BPO industry; it covers the entire private sector,” said Kyle Enero, president of the group.

The network proposed raising minimum daily wages from P500 to P700 in Class B areas and from P540 to P660 in Class A areas.

It cited research from the IBON Foundation, which argued that higher earnings are necessary to keep pace with the rising cost of basic goods and services.

Another labor group, Partido ng Manggagawa, adjusted its initial petition for a P100 increase, raising the proposed hike to P132 due to economic pressures driven by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

Representatives from the business community stressed the need for mutual compromise as hearings continue.

Fred Escalona, executive director of PhilExport Cebu, stated that workers, employers, and the government must jointly bear the burden of inflation.