GMA urged to grant non-wage benefits

A consumer watchdog appealed to President Arroyo yesterday to immediately grant non-wage benefits to workers as it pushed for at least five proposed measures to alleviate the living conditions of those living on low wages.

In a statement, Consumer Oil Price Watch (COPW) chairman Raul Concepcion said the group is supporting the recommendations of Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas to grant non-wage benefits to workers to cushion the impact of the expanded value-added tax (EVAT).

"COPW is appealing to President Arroyo to immediately grant non-wage benefits as an early Christmas gift to minimum-, middle- and low-income workers," Concepcion said.

He presented a shortlist of non-wage benefits to the government, including a P35 subsidy on 11-kilogram Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanks, income tax exemption for minimum-wage workers, a pay hike by Feb. 15 next year, deployment of government rolling stores in depressed areas, and the removal of the 50-percent tariff on rice by the National Food Authority (NFA).

COPW also urged the government to provide shuttle buses or some form of transportation assistance to workers and encourage employers to release 13th-month salaries preferably on Dec. 16 or before Dec. 24.

To simplify implementation and prevent abuse of the proposed subsidies on LPG tanks, a seal from the Departments of Trade and Industry and Energy would be placed at refilling stations, Concepcion said. Only those with seals would be entitled to the subsidy, Concepcion said.

The President, he added, can immediately grant income tax exemptions to minimum-wage earners in consultation with business and labor leaders, and direct the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards nationwide to determine the reduction in Filipinos’ purchasing power because of the EVAT.

Meanwhile, government rolling stores can also be deployed to major work centers, such as economic zones, factory sites, transportation terminals "and other strategic areas where there is a concentration of working masses and other areas suggested by labor organizations."

COPW has suggested that the government buy basic consumer goods and food items from big manufacturers at wholesale and discounted prices and control its distribution in rolling stores through coupons so as not to affect regular distribution channels in supermarkets, groceries and wet markets.

Concepcion said government agencies, such as the NFA, with the help of business, labor and other non-government organizations, should also monitor the distribution and sale of rice and other basic commodities to prevent abuse. — Paolo Romero