Meeting called by PGMA yesterday with employers, regional wage boards and labor groups, only a spectacle to deceive the public

"Meager, insulting wage adjustments nationwide ” to be expected

The militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today expressed disgust that the meeting called by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday with employers, regional wage boards and labor groups was just a “spectacle” or a “ show” to deceive workers nationwide that they are seriously considering a susbtantial wage increases.

 

KMU Spokesperson Prestoline Suyat said the pronouncements of Malacanang, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) that they seek and favor wage increases through the regional wage boards only reveal their insincerity to the workers’ plight and that a “meager, insulting wage adjustments nationwide” are unfortunately in the offing.

 

“ Substantial wage increases can only be achieved at this time through legislation. Last year, the workers in NCR only got an additional P12.00 in their basic pay which is not enough to buy a kilo of NFA rice which was pegged at that time at P18.00 per kilo. The other regions all over the country received lower amounts and some only got adjustments in their cost of living allowances (COLA). The script had been prepared by Malacanang and the TUCP and ECOP are now delivering their lines and unfortunately when the regional wage boards will decide in months or days to come, workers will be again at the sorry end, “ Suyat said.

 

Suyat lambasted the TUCP for deceiving the public when it filed a P80.00 across the board increase in Metro Manila through the NCR regional wage boards when the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) through its executive director Ciriaco Lagunsad III had declared that regional wage boards have no mandate to approve across the increases for workers.

 

“ The TUCP knows that regional wage boards have no mandate to allow across the board increases but still it filed such petitions. It was precisely that Republic Act 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act of 1989 was passed to discourage across the board increases and for the regional wage boards to ensure such. Across the board wage hike can only be deliberated and approved through legislation and that Congress is the proper forum to seek it. But again the TUCP is collaborating with employers and Malacanang to mislead the public that substantial wage adjustments can be achieved through regional wage boards. It is a fact that when regional wage boards decide, they only give meager increases to minimum wage earners unlike in our campaign for an P125 across-the-board and across-the-country legislated wage increase that all workers from the rank and file to managerial positions will benefit,” Suyat explained.

 

Suyat also added that regional wage boards were established to ensure that docile, cheap labor through low wages in the export processing zones. Export processing zones (EPZ) and enclaves are located in the regions ourtside Metro Manila, wherein companies are usually owned by multinational corporations or foreign businessmen.

 

On the other hand, the labor leader also registered that they support a bill filed in Congress which seek tax exemption to low-income workers. A bill pending at the House of Representative will give workers with a monthly pay of less than P9,209 a month a tax exemption.

 

“ Tax exemption for workers is welcome but it will only be complementary and secondary to the workers hapless condition. A legislated, across-the-board wage increase still the primary demand of the workers at this time when increases in the prices of rice and other essential commodities remain unabated,” Suyat said.