Workers throw paint at Noynoy’s face over refusal to hike wages

“If President Noynoy Aquino was shocked by the growing hunger in the country, the Filipino workers are outraged by it.”

This was the statement of labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno in a protest action held today in front of the Department of Labor and Employment office in Intramuros, Manila. Workers threw paint bombs on a big photo of Pres. Aquino to show their outrage over the government’s refusal to implement a substantial wage increase and price controls in the face of unabated hikes in the prices of basic commodities.

“We are outraged by the rising hunger and poverty in the country and the adamant refusal of the Aquino regime to implement a substantial wage hike amidst the unabated increases in the prices of basic commodities. We are also outraged by the Aquino regime’s attempts to fool the people in the face of severe economic hardships with its pa-pogi moves,” said Roger Soluta, KMU secretary-general.

“A P7.00 ECOLA hike, opening to a wage hike, fuel subsidy, conditional cash transfer –all of these serve the same purpose: to fool the people that the Aquino regime is doing something to address the worsening economic condition of the Filipino workers and people. The truth is that the Aquino regime’s measures do not provide genuine relief to the Filipino workers and people,” he said.

“Well, game over for Mr. President-in-Porsche. The Filipino workers and people have been suffering from hunger long ago and are set to explode in protests in the coming days. It’s high time for the regime to heed workers’ and the people’s call for a significant wage hike and price controls, especially on oil,” Soluta added.

KMU enumerated its calls to the Aquino regime – calls pushing for measures that will provide poor people with immediate economic relief.

“The Aquino regime should push for the approval of House Bill 375 which will legislate a nationwide P125 across-the-board wage hike, HB 4317 which will repeal the Oil Deregulation Law and the scrapping of the E-VAT on petroleum products. It is only these measures which stand a chance to pacify the outrage of the Filipino workers and people,” Soluta said.

“This protest action is only the start of our series of action condeming the Aquino regime for being deaf and mute to our calls. We are gearing up for the ‘Day of Outrage’ in May 1 to show the Aquino regime that it cannot continue to keep us poor and hungry and try to fool us,” Soluta concluded.