THE Philippines’ biggest labor group has filed a substantial P320 across-the board wage increase petition for the more than six million minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR) as inflation, which currently stands at 4.6 percent continues to erode the purchasing power of wages.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) filed the wage increase petition on Thursday before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-NCR following a careful study on the effects of the inflation rate to minimum wage earners in Metro Manila and elsewhere in the country.
“We call on President Duterte to lead from the front in the fight against poverty. We remind the President that the question of wage policy is first and foremost in the minds of people now. Added to this is the question of addressing the problem of inflation and the quest of all for decent jobs,” said TUCP president and partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza.
The group pointed out that a P320 daily wage increase would bring the minimum wage in NCR to P832 from the existing P512 daily minimum wage to enable a family of five to survive.
NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia said that a family of five would need at least P42,000 a month to live decently, which is roughly equivalent to P1,400 daily income.
TUCP vice president Manuel Corral noted that P832 was still “survival wage” as it was way below the P1,400 projection of NEDA, giving the soaring prices of basic commodities and cost of services.
“That is still far from a decent daily wage but we will still appreciate it if the wage board will grant our present petition” he added. WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
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