Workers ask senator for legislated wage hike aside from wage setting review

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) welcomed the resolution of Senator Raffy Tulfo for a review of the wage setting mechanism as it also called on him to sponsor a legislated salary hike.

“We could not agree more with Senator Tulfo on the need to assess the system of minimum wages which are falling behind the rapid rise of prices. But repealing RA 6727, the current law on minimum wages takes time. Thus, the imperative for immediate relief for workers through a legislated wage hike which Congress has the power to enact. We call on Senator Tulfo to lead the effort,” declared Mario Andon, PM-Panay coordinator.

He added that “Isinusumbong ng mga manggagawa ang P100 across-the-board nationwide legislated wage hike at umaasa ng aksyon mula sa itinuturing nilang idol sa Senado. We call on Senator Tulfo to fight for workers who look up to him.”

PM has demanded from Congress a P100 wage hike amidst runaway inflation.

Using the latest consumer price index data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the group calculated 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 the National Capital Region.

“We call on the labor movement to link up arms to win 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 called on Senator Tulfo 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 half of 50% rise in labor productivity. This means that employers have monopolized economic growth and workers have been left behind.”

“Further, a review of wage setting goes beyond minimum salaries. 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.