Binay seeks review of Salary Standardization Law

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay is supporting proposals for a review of the Salary Standardization Law to address the flight of government workers seeking higher paying jobs abroad.

“I call on Congress to pursue revisions in the Salary Standardization Law. We need to make sure that we can offer our government workers, especially those performing highly technical work, a compensation package that sustains their families and recognizes their skills and competencies,” he said.

Binay made the call after another weather forecaster and eight aerobridge operators at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport left the country for higher paying jobs abroad.

“It is simply not right that the country is deprived of the technical knowledge and expertise of Filipinos who would be more than willing to serve the country, but are forced to look for greener pastures just to meet the basic needs of their families,” he added.

The vice president said a review of the salaries and benefits of government employees is needed to stop the “brain drain” of highly skilled state workers.

Higher pay for nurses sought

Meanwhile, two congressmen are seeking an increase of almost P10,000 in the basic monthly pay of government nurses.

Under Bill 178 authored by Bayan Muna Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate, the present Salary Grade 11 of nurses, which corresponds to a monthly pay of P15,649, would be upgraded to Salary Grade 15 with a salary of P24,887.

“The bill aims to upgrade the minimum salary grade level of nurses to provide them with just compensation and to encourage more health workers to work in government hospitals instead of going abroad,” the lawmakers said.

“Despite the mushrooming of nursing schools and the large number of graduates, there is still a shortage of working nurses in the country,” they said.

There is an estimated 300,000 jobless nurses.

To employ more nurses, the Department of Health has launched a program to deploy tens of thousands of nursing graduates in the provinces on a six-month rotation basis. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Jess Diaz