No Labor Day wage increase — DOLE

President Arroyo is not expected to announce a wage increase on Labor Day, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas pointed out the regional tripartite wages and productivity boards (RTWPBs) should make the announcement of any increase in the minimum wage or non-wage benefits for this year.

"Walang wage increase. It is not going to come from us if it is going to happen. It is to come from the regional wage boards," she said.

Sto. Tomas said she does not have any idea what President Arroyo would announce on May 1 when she joins the Labor Day celebration with workers.

"I cannot say what Malacañang will announce because we may preempt the President," she said.

Sto. Tomas made this statement a day after the moderate Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) announced their move to file a petition for a P70 across the board wage increase before the RTWPB in the next weeks.

Their militant counterpart, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) dismissed the move, claiming the main purpose of the creation of the wage board is to negate and prevent any across the board wage increase.

"It’s like waiting for the crow to turn white," KMU national chairman Elmer Labog said.

He branded TUCP’s call for a P70 across the board increase as "almost close to impossible."

Labog said the best move is to support the call for a P125 legislated nationwide wage increase in the wake of the increasing prices of basic commodities.

The KMU has been calling for a legislated P125 across the board wage increase in Congress.

The last legislated across the board wage increase was in 1989. It was subsequently followed by the establishment of the regional wage boards, which now acts on petitions for wage hikes in different areas in the country. - James Mananghaya