DIFFERENT Philippine trade unions, labor federations, and workers organizations will march together in solidarity in Manila today, Wednesday, to press for the passage of the P150 across-the-board wage hike bill in Congress as the country celebrates its 122nd Labor Day.
Led by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), and Nagkaisa Labor Coalition (Nagkaisa!), workers under the banner of the National Wage Coalition (NWC) will raise their concerns to President Marcos Jr., who is marking his second Labor Day in office.
“Passing the P150 wage recovery increase is only the first yet pivotal step that the Philippines should take to actualize living wages,” said the NWC.
Workers will assemble at 6:30 a.m. on Espana corner Don Quijote St. for a short program at 7 a.m.
They will then march to Mendiola at around 8 a.m. to send a strong message to the government.
Several House bills are proposing wage hike increases ranging from P150 to P350.
On the other hand, the Senate has previously approved the measure proposing a P100 legislated wage increase.
In a separate statement, SENTRO said the passage of the legislated wage hike is imperative considering the prevalence of poverty in the country.
“With millions facing poverty even when working honestly, we demand that Congress swiftly pass the P150 across-the-board wage recovery hike for the private sector,” said SENTRO.
“It is no longer a question of whether it was possible, and if workers even deserve non-poverty wages. It is now a matter of when and by how much will our wages be increased,” it furthered.
The labor group also said lawmakers should disregard the opposition of the employers’ sector as it lacks enough basis.
“Employer opposition to the push for higher wages is both economically and morally bankrupt,” it said.
“Long overworked and underpaid, we demand that wages should allow us to live a decent and meaningful life,” added SENTRO.
UP TO CONGRESS
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday said the proposed legislated across-the-board wage hike is entirely in the hands of lawmakers.
In a radio interview, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said DOLE has no say in granting the call of the workers for the passage of the wage hike law.
“We are leaving this matter to the legislature because it is under their mandate,” said Laguesma.
“Our obligation on that is only to give technical inputs so that there would be a balance in considering the needs of the workers and their families and the capacity of employers,” he added.
Several bills pending in Congress call for across-the-board wage increases for workers in the private sector.
As far as DOLE is concerned, the labor chief said all the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) have issued their respective wage orders for minimum wage earners and domestic workers.
“All wage orders have been issued less than a year ago by the regional wage boards,” said Laguesma.
Under the rules on minimum wage fixing, any wage order issued by the regional wage boards may not be disturbed for 12 months from its effectivity.
