Labor group slams holiday economics

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) slammed the holiday economics argument as President Bongbong Marcos issued a proclamation declaring February 24 as a special non-working holiday.

“Holiday economics makes no sense to workers. How can workers go on a holiday for P450 per day? The minimum wage is not even enough for basic necessities and is less than half the living wage of P 1,300 per day,” argued Mario Andon, PM-Iloilo coordinator.

He added “Government should act on the P100 wage hike demand before it goes on promoting holiday economics. According to the government’s own Ambisyon Natin 2040, the family household income should be P120,000 per month so that it can set aside P10,000 for holiday expenses—divided into P4,000 for ‘relax with family and friends’ and P6,000 for ‘occasional trips around the country.’ Given the government’s inaction on the demand for a salary increase, it will take a century before the current P11,700 monthly minimum wage reaches P120,000, if at all.”

“In fact, even the few Filipinos who can afford to go on a holiday, cannot do so because of the last-minute announcement yesterday. Holidays are planned in advance. It seems that because BBM—who has been called out as President Ferdinand Magellan Jr. on American TV—travels and takes a vacation on a whim, he thinks others have the same privilege,” Andon added.

PM called on Filipinos to join activities to commemorate the ouster of the Marcos dictatorship.

On Friday, the Iloilo chapter of PM participated with the United Labor contingent of workers in a joint protest with students this afternoon in Iloilo City.

Last Wednesday, the group had a press conference to announce its demands for today’s protest. The filing of a petition for a P100 wage hike by United Labor has been postponed to Monday due to the closure of government offices today.

Today, martial law victims will assemble at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City.

“It is adding insult to injury when the government promotes holiday economics to workers. Workers suffer a salary cut when a non-working holiday is moved to a weekday since the no work, no pay rule applies,” Andon explained.

According to PM’s calculations based on the consumer price index data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, P87 has been eroded from the P450 minimum wage in the key cities of Western Visayas. Inflation in Western Visayas is higher than in Metro Manila. The group’s own estimate is that P1,300 is needed so that a family of five can provide for its daily cost of living.

“Instead of a hollow holiday economics policy, we ask the government for an Apat na Dapat policy package. First, wage hikes. Second, abolition of regressive taxes like VAT and application of progressive taxation such as a wealth tax on oligarchs and billionaires. Third, social security subsidies for informal workers. Fourth, discounts on basic commodities. These will protect and improve the wages and incomes of workers in the formal and informal economy,” Andon elaborated.