Workers welcome move of Senate on wage increase

Workers yesterday welcomed the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment's move to tackle the proposed across-the-board legislated wage increase, as they appealed to the senators to give them a happy new year and disregard the "black propaganda" spread by the employers.

Partido ng Manggagawa extended its appreciation to the committee members for inviting labor representatives to the hearing of the proposed measure.

But members of the Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbu-Kilusang Mayo Uno, on the other hand, expressed fears that the legislated wage will not push through due to the proposed flexible labor policy that will be included in the agenda during the 12th ASEAN Summit here.

Elpidio Caterbas, secretary general of AMA-Sugbu-KMU said that the flexible labor policy will strengthen the regional wage boards and workers will have difficulty in pushing for legislated wage increase.

The Senate Committee on Labor and Employment last Thursday started its hearing on the P100-legislated wage increase, which is P25 lower than the proposal initially approved by the House of Representatives last December.

"The P100 is lower than we are pushing for but it is already acceptable to us, as long as it will be implemented," said Caterbas.

However, employers are opposed to the across the board legislated wage increase because it can allegedly result to closure of companies and retrenchment of workers.

But the labor sector defended its proposal, saying workers are asking for only a small percentage from the companies.

PM said that the full-page advertisements by the capitalists in major dailies are the opening salvo of the latter in their all out-war against the legislated wage increase.

"With such blatant lies and devious threats they are fomenting class warfare and inciting workers to sedition. We appeal to the Senate to give workers a happy new year and to disregard the black propaganda and blackmail of these prophets of doom," PM said in a statement.

The businessmen insisted that implementation of the P125-across-the-board legislated wage hike will result to P1.2 trillion in additional costs in the next three years and will lead to demise of the enterprises.

They said that they are hoping that the Lower House will change its decision and junk the bill before it reaches the Senate. They also appealed to the senators to reject the bill if it reaches the Senate and President Gloria Arroyo to veto it if the Senate approves it.

But workers said that the increase that they are asking is not even enough for them to recover their lost purchasing power and for them to have just compensation for the fruits of their labor.

Citing a report from the National Wages and Productivity Commission, PM said that the P350-minimum wage in the National Capital Region is not even enough of the ideal daily living wage of P764. In Metro Cebu, the minimum daily wage is P243 a day, almost half below the ideal living wage of P736 for a family with six members. - Wenna A. Berondo/BRP