Showdown at Congress: additional wages vs. tax hikes

Militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today staged a protest action outside the House of Representatives to exert political pressure on legislators to give priority to the P125 wage bill over the Value Added Tax increase.

“We urge legislators to vote based on their conscience and the interests of the people. The public demands for additional wages and not additional taxes. We need urgent reprieve from further financial burden. Additional taxes are only meant to worsen the people’s economic condition.”

KMU again highlighted the P125 across-the-board, across-the-country wage hike demand in the light of deliberations in Congress to revive legislative efforts for the P125 wage bill. The Committee on Rules is set to schedule the P125 wage bill for a plenary deliberation in the Lower House.

“Additional VAT is the least that we need now. For an ordinary worker receiving a daily minimum wage of P250 additional taxes mean less budget for food and other daily needs. Additional taxes will surely eat up a large portion of workers’ wages,” said KMU Executive Vice President Lito Ustarez.

He said they will launch series of actions to block the passage of the 12 percent VAT hike.