Workers to bizmen: Stop scaring the people vs P125

Militant labor group Alyansa sa Mamumuo sa Sugbo - Kilusang Mayo Uno (AMA-Sugbo-KMU) dismissed claims of business groups and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) – Region VII that the impending P125 legislated wage increase will result to an economic collapse.

Wennie Badayos, chairperson of AMA-Sugbo-KMU, said that the “end-of-the-world scenario conjured by large businesses are just hallucinations meant to scare the people from supporting the wage bill that has now clinched enough legislative and popular support. These businessmen are just afraid of the prospect losing some of their annually projected profits.”

“It is preposterous for business groups to assert that the economy will crumble as the proposed increase will be staggered over three years. Such increase is but a penny compared to the millions they profit yearly,” said Badayos.

Blame Arroyo for joblessness

“The claim that the P125 wage measure will result to massive closures of small businesses, and its resultant unemployment, is baseless since salaries do not make or break a business. Unfair competition against large corporations, represented by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce, and foreign companies is the one murdering our local industries,” said Badayos.

“It is Arroyo who is to blame for the predicament of workers and small businesses. Arroyo has basically sold out much of what is left of our economy and patrimony to foreign corporate interests,” he added.

No time left

Badayos urged the Senate to immediately approve the P125 wage increase after it passed Labor Committee deliberations.

“It is a matter of urgency and even life and death for workers and their families to have this reprieve from the economic crisis that our nation is in right now. Workers must now do their utmost to prevent Malacañang’s impending veto,” ended Badayos.