Substantial wage hike needed to mitigate effects of El Niño, price hikes

Anakpawis, KMU troop to Palace to assert nationwide wage hike anew

A substantial wage increase on a nationwide scale is urgently needed to mitigate the effects of severe dry spell and recent round of price hikes at the very least, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno and Anakpawis Partylist asserted today.

In a mobilization to Mendiola today, KMU and Anakpawis slammed the Arroyo regime’s continued inaction over the long overdue demand of workers for a substantial wage hike, insisting that persistent denial of the P125-nationwide wage increase “pushes more Filipinos into the abyss of hunger and poverty.”

“Since 2001, Gloria Arroyo has just sat on the persistent call of workers for a P125 legislated nationwide wage hike up to this point wherein the combined effects of El Niño and new rounds of price hikes make survival very difficult for Filipino families,” said KMU chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog.

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) implemented an increase of P2.20 per kilowatt-hour in its electricity rates. (P1 last month, P1.20 this month). Meanwhile, oil companies have raised pump prices of diesel and gasoline four times since last month. Prices of food items, especially agricultural products, have also risen due to supply problems caused by severe drought in many regions.

Minimum wage levels in all regions are stuck at 2008 levels despite the economic crisis for almost two years now. In five regions, prevailing wages are actually below the fixed minimum wage in those regions.

“It has been established that prices far outpace any increase in wages. But with stagnant wages vis-à-vis skyrocketing prices on a nationwide scope, workers are facing worse situation, perhaps near-death hunger,” Labog said.

KMU cited several studies which show that hunger incidence is higher in areas with low incomes, including last year’s Gallup International world hunger survey, wherein the Philippines ranked no. 5 among 55 countries.

Social justice issue

For his part, Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Joel Maglunsod said that apart from keeping wage levels frozen, Arroyo has actively blocked efforts to pass House Bill 345, which calls for a legislated P125-nationwide wage hike, through her minions in Congress.

“Part of Arroyo’s anti-worker record is her outright opposition to the passage of the P125-wage hike bill, which was already approved on third reading but was pushed back to the committee level. It was a clear injustice to workers thirsting for a substantial wage increase and a lasting black mark on Arroyo as an anti-worker president,” said Rep. Maglunsod.

“It should be stressed that the struggle for a P125-wage increase is not just about economic relief. It is about struggling for social justice in a society where wealth distribution is highly skewed and where big businesses reap superprofits,” he added.

Labor vote

The solon also challenged national candidates to present their position and stance on the wage hike and other workers’ issues. “The labor vote or the support of the country’s 35 million working population is crucial. Candidates must present concrete platforms on pro-worker employment generation and long term economic development.” Maglunsod also noted that there is a very low passage of pro-worker legislations in Congress.    

“At this time of election period, workers must be discerning and discriminate in choosing candidates. #