FOR 90-PESO WAGE HIKE
[PHOTO -
Trade Union Congress of the
Philippines]
MANILA,
MARCH 17, 2012 (MANILA STANDARD)
Written by Vito Barcelo - THE Trade Union Congress of The Philippines filed
a petition for a 90-peso wage hike for Metro Manila workers before the Regional
Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board Friday.
The Employers Confederation of the Philippines said it opposed the petition,
saying such an increase would hurt small businesses at a time when many
companies were coping with the rising cost of fuel.
The more radical Kilusang Mayo Uno urged the TUCP to form an alliance to win
a bigger wage increase.
"Such an alliance will surely strengthen the workers' fight for a substantial
wage increase, which is much deserved by workers but is now long overdue," said
Elmer Labog, KMU chairman.
"The Aquino government and big capitalists have been all-out in opposing a
significant wage hike while the number of unionized workers has been reduced
over the years.
Workers need to unite in order to have a fighting chance that our demands
will be met," he added Labog also condemned the Aquino government's "knee-jerk
dismissal of any proposal for a wage hike."
"President Aquino is again showing that he is a consistent pro-capitalist and
anti-worker president," he said.
According to the TUCP's petition, there are enough supervening factors that
require an increase in daily wages. Currently, the daily minimum wage for Metro
Manila workers is P426.
"Increases in commodity and fuel prices have greatly eroded the purchasing
power of this amount to about 42 percent, which means, its actual worth is now
just around P200," the trade union said.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, who is also the National Wages and
Productivity Board chairman, said the board will meet in the coming weeks to
discuss the petition.
Under the labor law, a wage hike petition can actually only be entertained a
year after the previous wage order was imposed unless there are supervening
events or conditions, such as a dramatic increase in commodity and fuel prices.
The last wage order was issued May 26, 2011.
Also on Friday, the central bank said it has pegged its inflation rate
projections on a salary increase of P18, well below the P90 the labor sector is
seeking.
Bangko Sentral Deputy Gov. Diwa Guinigundo said the Bangko Sentral only
factored in an P18 salary increase for the year in setting its inflation target
of 3 percent to 5 percent.
"The issue that should be raised is whether the proposed adjustment is
consistent with productivity gains. This should be demonstrated," said
Guinigundo. Elaine R. Alanguilan
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
phno-digest@yahoogroups.com
phno-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
