Legislative cruel joke

There's no better term to describe the legislative ploy to flatter - and ingratiate themselves with - the labor force with across-the-board daily wage increase of P125 in three-year span.

Such cruelty is so obvious even to the so-so minds, that is, the "honorable" solons knew all along that such radical raise is beyond realization. Should any of the legislators demur otherwise, it may boomerang on his face, of how dense and shallow could be his perception of the labor-capital economic balancing scale.

There's no question that House Bill 345 for a three-year P125 daily wage increase, and Senate Bill 2030 for a one-shot deal P100 daily raise are political gimmickry to woo the labor vote in the May 2007 elections. For how else could both chambers justify their railroad-fashion treatment, if not to preempt the onset of the midterm elections?

Okay, that the working force needs yearly pay increases is also beyond question, not only for those in the private sector, but equally so, in government bureaucracy. But whatever gradual adjustments, have to be reasonable and fairly equitable to both the employees and the employers.

DBM Secretary Rolando Andaya's proposed 10 percent salary increase for state workers that totals P10.3 billion, though very belated and irregular, is a step to tide over a bit their financial straits. And, any amelioration for private wage earners has to be also gradually adjusted by the regional tripartite wage and productivity boards (RTWPB) nationwide, as mandated by law.

Admittedly, both salary/wage hikes for public and private breadwinners are, in the main, inadequate or falling short of the more rapid or higher hikes in prices of goods and services. But, that's the stark reality that can not be solved by simply throwing the burden to the government as public employer, or to the private employers. Somehow, the economic weighing scale on employee-employer welfare has to be rationalized and, not to tilt radically one way or the other.

Collating the apprehensions and arguments against HB 345 and SB 2030 raised by the businessmen, say, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the DOLE itself, the cross-section of the small and medium enterprises (SME), among others, appear to be valid and so far indisputably hold water. These points are: 1) the P125 legislated wage hike will lead to a loss over one million jobs; 2) it is disastrous to the economy with RP liable to become the "next Argentina"; 3) instead of inviting foreign investors, exodus investor pull-out and closure of industries; 4) radical rise of prices of goods, products, and services as a result of production costs incurred by employers; 5) with the certain retrenchment of workers by the SMEs, and even by giant companies, unemployment will also radically rise.

For Congress to disregard or turn blind eyes to these economic "probables" in the negative, is surprising even to common or not highly cerebral citizens. The possible explanation why both chambers seemingly are toying with such legislative bills is for them to be collectively perceived as labor-friendly. In short, for "pogi points" in the coming elections.

Their naughty streak seems to pass the buck, finally, to the president who may either approve or veto the final version of the bill. Under such political gimmickry, GMA has a "no-win" choice. Should she approve, she becomes the goat among the employers and, should she veto it, GMA becomes likewise the "devil" to the working force. Either way, Congress doesn't lose or shed a feather, or so it seems. In reality though, even the lowly-educated dockhands, or the lowly janitor in government, can see through unerringly the naughtiness and cruelty of the legislators in enacting a daily wage rate beyond implementation.

* * *

Email: [email protected]