The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) has opposed petitions for a wage increase this year, citing the province’s low inflation rates. NOCCI president Edward Du told the Philippine News Agency that it would be unfair for the business sector to agree to a wage adjustment when commodity prices have declined.
“We believe that there is no need for another round of wage adjustment this year because of the province’s negative inflation rates in the past months that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) presented during yesterday’s (Thursday) minimum wage public hearing,” Du said.
The Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board in Central Visayas is holding public hearings on minimum wage determination. During the hearing for Negros Oriental and Siquijor, the labor sector proposed a PHP1,200 across-the-board increase.
NOCCI cited PSA data showing inflation rates for the second quarter of 2025 as April: -0.1 percent; May: -0.2 percent; and June: -1.0 percent. In its position paper, NOCCI stated that while it respects workers’ rights, a wage increase without productivity gains “will only exacerbate the problem by further increasing production costs.”
The group warned that a wage hike could push up prices and create a “vicious cycle” of hardship for workers, especially in the unorganized sector, which makes up 40 percent of the labor force. Du added that a wage increase would “cripple” small businesses, as about 90 percent of enterprises in the province are micro, small, and medium enterprises.
