THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) yesterday called on President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to certify as urgent the P200 legislated wage hike, saying additional income is needed by workers.
In a statement, the TUCP said the P200 legislated wage hike is strongly demanded by workers.
“The badly-needed P200 wage hike is being dribbled by the government until kingdom come. Congress expects us to wait until June, when only six session days remain, to pass this wage increase bill, which has been pending for years now,” said TUCP.
“We urge the President to certify the P200 legislated wage hike as urgent now, not months from now,” it added.
The labor group said the pay hike is needed now and not later, with successive fare increases forthcoming.
These include the increase in minimum fare for LRT-1 from P15 to P20 and maximum fare from P45 to P55; a provisional increase in jeepney fare of P2; and city and provincial bus fares of P2.
“The relentless fare increases for trains, jeepneys, and city and provincial buses are poised to crush Filipino worker-commuters in April,” it said.
“April is shaping up to be a month of triple whammy transport fare hikes,” added TUCP.
The P200 daily minimum wage increase bill has been approved by the House of Representatives on second reading.
