Workers schedule major protest actions on Feb. 6 to give 'final push' for the approval of the Beltran Bill

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today said condemned Malacanang and Department of Labor and Employment's desperate maneuverings to block the passage of the proposed P125 across-the-board, legislated wage increase.

"The business sector and Malacanang are conniving with certain individuals within the legislative department in desperate attempts to scuttle the progress of the wage hike bill. Particularly, they are using Cavite Rep. Crispin Remulla to delay the passage of the bill in the guise of a motion for reconsideration. If Boying continue to push with such tactics, he' s no different from his father's record of advocating and implementing no-union, no-strike policy in the CALABARZON during Juanito Remulla's governorship in Cavite. "With the aid of Arroyo and DoLE, business groups plan to permanently defer the granting of a legislated pay hike for workers in the private sector."

On February 6, KMU will lead a major workers' protest as their final push for the legislation of the P125 across-the-board wage in the 13th Congress' session. "We are now in the final round of battle for the legislated wage hike. We will fight until the end until we achieve the just demand of the country's overworked and underpaid workforce," said KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog.

Workers seek help from 'Senatoriables' and incumbent solons

The labor center also sought out Senatoriables Cong. Allan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero and other well meaning candidates in the 2007 national elections and asked them to execute the 'final push' towards the granting of a legislated wage increase. It also asked Senator Jinggoy Estrada and other pro-worker senators to firmly push Senate Bill 2497 as the Senate version of P125 Bill or Beltran Bill in the lower house.

"We strongly urge Congress and Senate to finally approve the legislated wage hike proposal before they engage completely with their individual electoral concerns. The demands and interests of workers must be addressed suitably. We demand for a P125 legislated wage increase and nothing less. We will not be appeased with ECOLA like what DoLE proposed."

"In the last remaining session days of Congress and Senate, legislators must iron out all proceedings concerning House Bill 345 and SB 2497. We are looking forward to a worthwhile resolution of the wage hike proposal which is pending for legislation since 2001.

"We strongly disagree with the proposal of the House Committee on Budget Planning and Development to stretch the granting of the P125 wage hike to 5 years instead of the 3-year P45-P40-P40 installment. Likewise, we are not amenable to wage hike adjustments through the regional tripartite wages and productivity boards (RTWPBs),"

"All economic indicators already proved the necessity of an urgent wage increase. Productivity of workers progressively increased for past six years. But with the absence of any substantial wage adjustment, the gap between rich and poor continue to widen. In fact, the average daily minimum wage (including COLA) for all regions amounting P229.35 is short of P447.98 to meet the estimated daily cost of living of P680," Labog said citing figures from independent research think tank IBON Foundation.