Aquino continues Arroyo’s wage policy with measly hikes in S. Mindanao, W. Visayas

The recently approved wage increases in the Southern Mindanao and Western Visayas portends a continuation of measly and sparse hikes which workers experienced under Arroyo, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno said today.

In Southern Mindanao, the regional wage board approved a P21 increase in daily pay, while the Western Visayas regional wage board approved a P15 wage increase – increases which KMU said is an omen for

“President Noynoy Aquino said Filipinos can dream again. But how could workers dream again with P15 and P21? These measly amounts were no different from what the Arroyo regime granted in the past nine years, an indication that there’s nothing new in Aquino’s wage policy,” said KMU chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog.

“This is highlighted by the fact that Aquino did not mention anything about wages in his first State of the Nation Address. We suspect that the Aquino administration would use these measly increases to discredit workers’ call for a P125 nationwide wage hike,” he added.

Labog said workers have been pushing for the approval of the P125 nationwide wage increase since the Estrada administration. “Aquino is hinting that he will continue the attitude of past administrations on dealing with wage hike calls – dishing out crumbs region after region to create an illusion of a nationwide increase.”

Last month, the regional wage board in the National Capital Region granted a P22 wage increase, a pittance which Arroyo boasted as her legacy to labor.

“This move by the regional wage boards in Western Visayas and Southern Mindanao under Aquino is also proof of how inutile wage boards are in addressing the workers’ plight. That is why we have also been demanding the scrapping of the wage board system,” Labog said.

“Workers are poised to intensify the wage hike campaign in the coming days for Aquino’s failure to hear our demands. We will push for the prioritization of House Bill 375 seeking a legislated P125-nationwide wage increase, which was filed by Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano.