Comelec employees seek pay hike

MANILA, Philippines - Employees of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday expressed their support for a bill filed at the House of Representatives calling for an increase in their salaries.

Mac Ramirez, president of the Comelec Employees’ Union, said the wage adjustment is long overdue as they are lagging behind other government workers when it comes to salary level.

“House Bill 4671 is good news for Comelec employees nationwide,” he said.

The measure was filed on Monday by Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio who noted the “glaring disparity in the salaries of Comelec employees compared to workers in other government offices and constitutional bodies.”

“For decades, the principle of equal pay for equal work has not been felt by the Comelec employees,” Tinio said.

He said the poll body has around 6,000 employees nationwide and a majority of them receive middle to low-level income.

Frances Arabe, public relations officer of the Comelec employees’ union, had earlier complained that Comelec lawyers with the rank of Election Officer IV receive a monthly salary of P39,439, which is equivalent to Salary Grade 21.

She said division superintendents of the Department of Education are paid more than P53,000 a month.