Congress pressed to pass P125 wage hike

Workers called on lawmakers yesterday to immediately pass a pending bill seeking to grant a P125 wage increase across the board within the remaining 12 days of session of Congress.

In a statement, the militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said that of all the legislature’s unfinished tasks, House Bill 345 or the wage hike bill is "long overdue" and that lawmakers should focus their attention on the measure as workers need to cope with "difficult times," especially with the opening of classes in the next few weeks.

"Legislators are left only with 12 session days and we expect them to pass the wage hike bill within this period. Workers can’t wait any longer. The school opening is approaching and workers need to pay tuition and other school fees," KMU secretary general Joel Maglunsod said.

He explained that workers need urgent economic relief to meet the ever-increasing cost of living.

"Petroleum prices are increasing every week. Market prices of fish and agricultural products are expected to increase during the rainy season. Enrollment period in schools and universities have started but workers still don’t have enough money to pay for tuition and other school needs of their children," Maglunsod said.

The wage hike bill has been filed with the Congressional Committee on Labor and Employment since the 11th Congress, and according to Maglunsod, "workers cannot wait until the opening of the 14th Congress in July."

"We urge legislators to take this challenge and finally give in to the people’s clamor for a wage increase. This 12-day session is crucial. We need to see exceptional developments in the way our legislators treat the wage hike bill. We want to see each and every legislator working hard on the wage hike bill and not just sitting down lazily in the Session Hall while workers pay them their salaries with our hard-earned taxes," Maglunsod said in the statement.

He said Rep. Prospero Nograles must keep his word that the P125 wage hike proposal would remain among the top priorities of Congress’ agenda.

Meanwhile, Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, who is in police detention at the Philippine Heart Center, urged his colleagues to pass the bill.

Beltran said 57 lawmakers have already expressed willingness to serve as co-authors of the bill, while 127 others have promised their vote.

Businessmen oppose the legislated wage increase, saying it could drive up costs and, eventually, prices of basic goods.

Wage hikes granted by regional wage boards are often seen as miniscule by labor activists because they are usually only a tiny fraction of what was being sought.

Labor groups have also accused the government in the past of being unsympathetic to their plight and siding with business in regional wage board deliberations.

In November, President Arroyo urged Congress to "put a reasonable wage hike on top of the legislative agenda to ease the pressure on our workers" that might be brought about by the expanded value-added tax, which was a crucial part of Mrs. Arroyo’s economic recovery plan.

Her call came following warnings from critics that the expanded value-added tax would raise prices because fuel and electricity were no longer exempt.

However, Mrs. Arroyo retreated from this position a few days later.

Trade Secretary Peter Favila said Mrs. Arroyo backpedaled following opposition from businessmen, who said a legislated wage hike would drive up prices.

Favila said Mrs. Arroyo would prefer that regional wage boards decide how much the minimum wage should be raised.

He also claimed that Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. had assured Malacañang that the House would not act on the wage increase bill.

Press Secretary Ignacio defended Mrs. Arroyo from criticism that she lacked direction in calling for a legislated wage increase, only to backtrack the following day.

He conceded that a legislated wage increase would be unrealistic and instead sought non-wage benefits for workers to cope with the cost of living.

Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo held talks with businessmen and some lawmakers about the wage hike issue.

They had "convinced her that the best way to achieve effective social relief, while preserving jobs, is through strongly empowered tripartite boards, combined with strong, non-wage amelioration measures and safety nets."