Their faces were pictures of anxiety as they queued in front of the cashier’s window. Those not standing in line were fidgety under the afternoon sun; the gentle breeze was just not enough to cool them. Some sat quietly in a corner, glancing at their watches every now and then. All their eyes, however, were glued to the still closed cashier’s window. When it finally opened all eyes shifted to the first employee who received his pay slip. A few tense moments and then the employee smiled. There were sighs of relief all around. All were smiling, too. They knew their salaries had just been increased!

Every 5th and 20th of the month are paydays for employees of TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc. (TVIRD) in Canatuan, a mountain village northeast of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte and site of the company’s copper-zinc mining operations. The first payday last February, however, was reset to the 6th; the company’s Human Resource and Administration Department (HRAD) had to re-compute the payroll. That day marked the adjustment in salaries and wages – retroactive to January 2010 – of more than a thousand TVIRD Canatuan employees following the job grade evaluation conducted in the last quarter of 2009.

Why the adjustment? According to Cyril Baylosis, TVIRD Canatuan HRAD Manager, this increase in salaries is “the increment on employee compensation as a result of the recent job grade evaluation and of other privileges given by management to employees, including monthly rice allowance and cash incentive for length of service to the company.

“The salary adjustment is definitely a welcome news to our employees since it is applicable to all. All of us, from management down to rank-and-file, benefit from it. It is TVIRD’s way of acknowledging the hard work, dedication and loyalty demonstrated by our employees through good times and bad,” Yulo Perez, Vice President for Philippine Operations, stresses.

“I am still in cloud 9,” says Joel Decierdo, welder at the Maintenance Department. He says he did not expect an adjustment as big as what he just received: “Hesus, wa gyud ko magdahom nga ingon ani kadaku ang nadugang!” (Jesus, I was not expecting to receive such an increase!”)

Decierdo, who hails from San Jose, Baliguian, Zamboanga del Norte, has only good words to the company he has worked for in almost two years. “When HRAD gave me the papers for my adjustment, I thought there was a mistake somewhere; I was thinking: ‘this does not belong to me.’ But when I saw my name and that the adjustment was really meant for me, that was the only time I knew this is real. Ang bait ng kompanya! (The company is good!)”

He recalls that he just received P180 per day as welder in one of the biggest shipping companies in the country for ten years. “They didn’t even make me a regular employee. It even surprised me that TVIRD is giving free meals to employees and rice allowance to new ones.” He smiled when he remembers his wife telling him to use the rice allowance he gets for its real purpose, to buy rice. “The company gave you that allowance so you can focus on your work. Now you will not be saddled with the problem of thinking what to cook for your next meal. It is just but proper that you give all your best to your work,” Decierdo quotes his wife.

For his part, Mill Department Flotation operator Rex Jison says the salary adjustment “is an answer to my and my children’s prayers. ” Jison, who has been with TVIRD since 2004 shares that her eldest daughter Princess Mae has always prayed that he be given a salary increase so she can pursue her dream of becoming a nurse someday. The job grade evaluation, Jison adds, is “the best program that TVIRD has undertaken since I became an employee of the company. My job grade and salary are now well defined!”

Like other employees, Jison also the rice allowance that TVIRD has begun providing its personnel this year. “This allowance will enable us to save a part of our wages for the education of our children. Like other fathers, I wish to see all my children finish their studies and have good jobs,” he says.

Meanwhile, Edwin Rondez, 36, a survey aide at the Mine Department, says “I feel blessed and well taken care of. In the company I used to work with, I received a sary of only P165 daily. I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to work with TVIRD.”

Ricardo Manulat, leadman-welder also of the Maintenance Department, was extremely elated: “I cannot ask for more. I am very satisfied!”

When he broke the good news to TVIRD Canatuan Security Force Department (SFD) personnel, Perez emphasized that the adjustment was made “because we recognize your contributions to the success of our operations. Our continued success in our production, our very good performance in safety and security, and in managing our costs can be attributed to your cooperation, support and dedication.”

“The increase is timely,” Antonio Ortizano, an SFD team leader, says. “The prices of basic commodities have gone up since December.”

Lenlen Dandana, a Subanon entrepreneur who owns a variety store in Canatuan, praised the company for the latest salary increases, saying this would add more money now circulating in the village. “This is really good for business. This is one advantage of having a business firm in Canatuan,” she says. “I tried doing business in my husband’s village, but it wasn’t as brisk as in Canatuan.”

TVIRD hired an expert consulting company, Watson Wyatt, last year to firm up the job evaluation system and to put in place a grading scheme that will standardize employee salaries and prevent salary distortions. As planned, the results of the job evaluation is being implemented within the first quarter of 2010.

Baylosis explains the salary adjustment also recognizes the ongoing additional responsibility assumed by employees within the scope of their roles, even as it considers the market and the development of significant job competencies according to pre-determined objectives. “Salary adjustments, however, will not replace the merit increases for employees who are performing well. And is not an automatic annual entitlement,” he adds.

“TVIRD formed a committee to determine the salary grade of each employee,” Baylosis continues. “The salary structure was thoroughly reviewed by a third party Human Resource professional.”

Decierdo, has only one child, now in pre-school. The welder said he learned his skill from his experiences in working with different companies in the country. He was not able to finish high school because poverty drove him to work at an early age to help his parents support their family.

“It’s not only the salary increase that makes me happy,” Decierdo says. “It is also the thought even though I am just an ordinary employee and small contributor to the success of our operations, my contribution is recognized by Management. This is really a morale booster. My new rate encourages me further to do my best in my work. When I was young, I never had the choice to pursue a college education. Now, my son has this choice. I know, with TVIRD around, my son can reach college.” (Lullie Micabalo)