‘LIBING, NOT LIVING WAGE’: Labor group calls on Zubiri for a legislated wage hike

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

Labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) called on Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to sponsor a legislated salary hike.

Zubiri had increased by more than 300% the one-time inflation allowance of Senate employees to P50,000 and stated that private sector workers deserve a wage hike too.

“We could not agree more with Senator Zubiri that private sector minimum wages have been eroded by inflation and are less than half the Constitutionally-mandated living wage. Thus, the imperative for immediate relief for workers through a legislated wage hike which Congress has the power to enact. We call on Senator Zubiri to join hands with Senator Tulfo and others willing to champion the cause,” PM-Panay coordinator Mario Andon said.

He added that “Workers are suffering from starvation wages. Instead of a living wage, workers are paid a libing wage.”

PM demands a P100 across-the-board nationwide wage increase for wage recovery. Using the latest consumer price index data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the group calculates that P87 has been eroded from the P450 minimum wage of Western Visayas workers as of the January inflation of 8.7%. Inflation in Western Visayas is higher than in the National Capital Region.

“The labor movement must link up arms to win the war, that is to fight for a wage increase for wage recovery. The working class needs champions in and out of Congress but only unity and action of workers can defeat the resistance of employers to a wage hike,” Andon explained.

PM also asked Senator Zubiri to consider the long-standing demand for the abolition of the regional wage boards which discriminate against workers outside Metro Manila.

“Instead, we demand a National Wage Commission with the power to adjust wages on the basis of price increases and productivity growth. Even before the recent inflation, wages have stagnated amidst a decade and a half of 50% rise in labor productivity. This means that employers have monopolized economic growth and workers have been left behind.”

“Further, we are proposing a policy package called Apat na Dapat. 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.