RECAP: NEGROS ORIENTAL—Job Order employees staged a protest Monday morning last August 10, 2020 at Tanjay City Hall against the resolution of Sanguniang Panlungsod to genuinely implement the required minimum wage of 366 pesos. The protesters came to call the SP to maintain the 200 pesos wage rather than increasing it due to an alleged threat that others will be displaced. However, an interview with city councilor Juanito Condes claims that the resolution will not displace or lay off employees.

In a press conference, Hon. Catubig insisted that the city is implementing a Php 338 daily wage that was amended years ago. However, sources state that the Php 338 appears in the payroll and is signed by every employee, yet every job order employee only receives Php 200 pay per day, with the monthly pay received after every 3-4 months.

The Job Order workers were reportedly misinformed by the executive branch of the LGU that if the city would implement such an increase in wages, more employees will be laid off. According to an insider, the P138 unaccounted for from the workers’ wages is allegedly brought to the Office of the Mayor.

On the other hand, the opposition members of the Sangunniang Panlungsod is calling on to the Executive branch to pay the Job Order employees the just wages mandated by law, and states that there is enough budget to accommodate a P366 wage for all Job Order employees

Meanwhile, Catubig added that the JO employees who are affected by the wage scam should petition.

This is a developing story. Contributed by Kaye Brier