Wage freeze, cruelty to workers – KMU

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno today slammed the announcement of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that there will be no wage increases for the rest of the year, saying the department is again protecting capitalists’ profits, instead of upholding workers’ interests.

The DOLE based its announcement on a study by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) which states that the country has not yet fully recovered from the global financial and economic crisis and that any wage increase at this point will only bring about massive layoffs.

“This, yet again, is a cruel statement from the DOLE,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson. “When will be the right time for a wage increase? The crisis has not ended. Experts predict that it will last for some years. They even doubt whether we have fully experienced its impact,” he added.

Given what he calls the “already deplorable” record of the Arroyo government in increasing wages, Labog wondered why the announcement had to be made at all.

“The Arroyo regime is trying to preempt workers’ clamor for a wage increase from gaining ground. It knows that workers badly need a wage hike because of the recent calamities and rising prices of commodities. It knows that workers are already thinking of preparations for Christmas and New Year,” Labog said.

KMU said wage increases are possible even during times of crisis. “Big capitalists’ profits remain enormous even during these times. They can still grant workers a wage increase – that is, if they are prevailed upon, or forced, to uphold social justice and share in the burden of the crisis,” said Labog.

“But these concepts are foreign to big capitalists, the DOLE and the Arroyo regime. They will continue to suck people dry as long as they can. They want the people to bear the full weight of the crisis and die of hunger in the process – as shown by the recent oil price hikes and attempts to impose new taxes,” he added.

The labor leader also slammed the NWPC’s statement that the government is focusing on “employment preservation” at this point. “Really? Has it saved even a worker from being laid off? We have been calling for government action for workers’ protection from massive layoffs, and we have yet to hear any response from the government,” Labog said.

He then cited various companies where workers’ job security is threatened. “In North Harbor alone, 5,000 workers stand to lose their jobs. In Pfizer and Wyeth, 3,000 workers. In Oriental Tin Can, 1,700 workers. There have been layoffs in Triumph, KFC and Goodyear. What has the government done? Nothing,” he said.

“With this announcement, the DOLE is cementing its notoriety among the Filipino workers and people. We have always called it the ‘Department of Labor Exploitation’,” Labog added. #