THE Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) yesterday slammed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for its outright dismissal of a possible new round of wage hikes this year.
In a statement, KMU Chairman Elmer Labog said it is unacceptable for Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma to make a “preemptive” statement regarding potential wage orders from Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards.
“Last year’s wage increases only ranged from P30-P50, just enough for a kilo of rice, or fare for a short ride in a modern minibus under the PUV Modernization program, or a one-way train ticket now that fare hikes loom in the MRT and LRT,” said Labog.
“To hear the DOLE Secretary preemptively say that wage hikes are unlikely this year is also the government admitting that they have no interest in alleviating the plight of workers,” he added.
Labor said the Wage Rationalization Act allows wage orders to be issued within one year.
“The regional wage boards must issue wage increase orders motu proprio or upon the petition of workers at least each year. The minimum wage should be adjusted to the changing needs of workers to sustain their basic needs,” said Labog.
He also stressed that aiming to focus on ensuring that the latest wage orders are complied with is not sufficient to prevent a new round of salary adjustments.
“In no way should DOLE use this as an excuse and pass the burden of the inefficiency of monitoring to the workers,” said Labog.
Laguesma had earlier said a new round of salary adjustments would be unlikely for 2024.
Laguesma said this is because DOLE wants to make sure that there is compliance with the wage orders issued in 2023.
Last year, 15 regional wage boards issued wage orders.
Davao Region is the lone regional wage board in the country that did not issue a wage order for 2023.
