THE Unity for Wage Increase Now (UWIN) yesterday pushed for a P1,200 daily wage in the National Capital Region (NCR) from the current P610 daily compensation.
In a statement after the wage consultation conducted by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) – NCR yesterday, UWIN spokesman Charlie Arevalo said workers need to be given a higher daily wage for them to live decently.
“UWIN stands by its position that the minimum wage should be based on the family living wage of P1,200 per day,” said Arevalo.
“Our workers and their families deserve to live with dignity and not merely survive on a hand-to-mouth existence,” he added.
He said such a wage increase is justified given that worker productivity has risen significantly over the years, while the average minimum wage has declined.
Arevalo noted that employers have retained the benefits of the increased productivity as profits for decades but haven’t provided workers with the fair compensation they deserve.
“Workers were able to produce commodities and services. However, the real value of daily minimum wages has declined,” he said.
“It is high time that workers get a fair share of the fruits of their labor. UWIN steadfastly leads the fight for living wages,” added Arevalo.
Yesterday, the NCR wage board began holding public consultations for the new round of wage adjustments in Metro Manila at the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) in Quezon City.
The move comes as part of the NCR wage board’s adherence to the order of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to conduct timely reviews of the regional minimum wage rates.
During the public consultation, the Partido Manggagawa (PM) manifested their belief that the regional wage board scheme has been a failure for the past 35 years.
In a statement, PM expressed its sentiment regarding the failure of the RTWPBs to uplift the lives of workers.
“Your review, no matter how serious, cannot correct the failures and shortcomings of the regional wage boards over the past 35 years in raising the minimum wage nationwide above the poverty line,” said PM.
“We came here not because we wanted a review of the wage orders issued by the NCR wage board but to straightly express our collective sentiments regarding the failure of this body to lift millions of minimum wage earners out of poverty over the past 35 years,” it added.
Instead of pushing through with the minimum wage rate review, the labor group said they would press for the passage of the P150 legislated wage hike.
PM said it would also be better if the RTWPBs joined the labor sector in making such a call to Congress.
“We have already approached Congress to legislate a P150 wage increase to help workers recover their take-home pay affected by rising prices of goods and services, and to review the wage-setting mechanisms in the country,” it said.
“We rather urge the wage boards to support our efforts in convincing Congress if you truly wish to help alleviate the difficult lives of workers,” added PM.
The Senate has already passed a P100 wage increase while public hearings are still ongoing in the House Committee on Labor for a P150 pay hike.
