The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)-Nagkaisa and the Trade Union Congress Party-list is seeking a P136 wage hike for Metro Manila workers, who currently receive P466 in minimum daily pay.
The petition for the wage hike was filed before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board -National Capital Region during a public consultation conducted by the board on Thursday.
In a position paper, Rep. Raymond Mendoza said workers are “wallowing in poverty,” despite economic growth, which, he said, is “unfair and grossly unjust” to workers and their families.
“It is a social discrepancy that needs urgent attention from the government and employers must take seriously into consideration,” Mendoza said.
According to TUCP Spokesman Alan Tanjusay, inflation eroded the real value of peso by 35 percent. Moreover, he said, the consumer price index, tuition and recent fare hikes in the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit added burden to the workers.
“The real value of the current P466 minimum wage is P299 only. It cannot sustain the needs of a family. As a result, many employees fall through the cracks and join the growing ranks of the working poor. Thus, we are asking the board to give a ‘living’ minimum wage. We, particularly, appeal to employers to grant our petition,” Tanjusay said.
The board is composed of three government representatives—one each from the departments of Labor and Employment, Trade and Industry, and of National Economic Development Authority—and two each from the labor and employers’ sectors. The review process will take a maximum of two months, before deciding on the lawful amount for the wage hike.
In the position paper, the proponents said: “The P136 across-the-board and region-wide daily increase is essential, if workers are to cope with the increasing prices of commodities and cost of living, if they are to meet the basic needs of their families—even if only partially—and if the country is to give meaning and substance to the policy of equitable distribution of income and wealth.” - by Jonathan L. Mayuga / Business Mirror
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