Workers call solons to immediately pass P125 bill

People in a “red alert” situation amidst price hikes

Workers led by the Kilusang Mayo Uno picketed the House of Representatives today to “alarm” legislators on the urgent need to pass the P125 across the board wage hike bill.

They signaled the House on the need to address the “red alert” situation of the workers and the people by continuously striking a big bell at the Congress grounds, and distributing red roses to the solons with the message “Sa aming mga mambabatas, kagayat na isabatas ang 125 across the board increase. Ngayon na!”

“With the skyrocketing of the price of rice and basic commodities, people now live in an emergency condition to struggle for survival. And emergency situations deserve urgent response. That’s why we urge the Congress to immediately pass the 125-peso wage hike bill (or HB 1722).” said Elmer Labog, KMU chairperson.

“We are saddened that Gloria Arroyo did not include the 125 bill in the priority measures it has set for the Congress. Her regime is responsible for the dire conditions the people experience now. She should certify as urgent the P125 bill – it is only just and does not merit her an atonement,” added Labog.

Evasion

Labog also denounced the mechanisms pushed by the Arroyo regime to evade the P125 bill.

He slammed the old scheme to transfer the burden of raising wages to the regional wage boards.

“Wage boards were created and were proven to be deceiving instruments that only give insulting wage adjustments. Last year, NCR workers only got an additional 12 peso basic pay, which is not even enough to buy an P18 kilo of NFA rice. Workers outside Metro Manila usually receive much lesser wage hikes or none at all.”

Labog also sees the move to exempt minimum wage earners from tax as insufficient. “Tax exemption is not acceptable as a replacement for a wage increase.”

He also condemned the recent report of Standard Chartered bank that wage hikes will stir up economic instability for the country.

“The country’s economy has been perpetually unsuitable for workers and the Filipinos. Businesses are always capable of increasing the wages, but they always set the workers’ pay at the last priority when it comes to where to put their income.

“The people should not be served with scanty dole outs, nor with illogical arguments that attempt to reverse the situation.

“A legislated, 125 peso, across-the-board wage increase is what we want – and nothing less,” said Labog.