Palace: Don't expect wage hike announcement on May 1

MANILA, Philippines – There will be no announcement of wage hike from President Arroyo on Labor Day, Malacañang said yesterday.

Acting Executive Secretary Cerge Remonde, in an interview over radio dzRB, reiterated that this year’s Labor Day celebration would focus on creating jobs for the people amid the raging global financial crisis.

Announcements of wage increase by the President highlighted many previous Labor Day celebrations.

Remonde said a review on salaries by the tripartite wages and productivity boards would take place in July as mandated by law.

He explained that the order for the last minimum wage hike for Metro Manila – P20 per day – was issued in July last year.

“In some regions of the country, the last wage order was only issued between October and November 2008. The wage order (for Metro Manila) was issued July last year. The review is to be conducted one year after,” Remonde said.

Remonde also stressed that the focus of the government at the moment is not on increasing wages but on generating new jobs for the people and on finding ways for employees to keep their jobs.

Many businesses have either closed shop or cut down operations significantly due to the impact of the global economic crisis.

“On the issue of monetary wage increase, I think we all know that there are already discussions on this,” Remonde said.

“I think the most important thing at this time is more than wage increases, I think the consensus now of the tripartite partners, meaning the government, labor and management is really more on job security and job generation,” he added.

For this year’s Labor Day celebration, the government has decided to do away with the traditional parades and instead hold massive job fairs across the country.

He said the government would continue its micro-finance program for people who want to start up small businesses.

In anticipation of rallies by militant groups on Labor Day, Remonde advised their organizers to police their ranks to prevent them from being infiltrated by agitators.

“Man-made disasters are the last thing that we need during a crisis,” Remonde said.

Security preparations

Metro police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales directed his five police district directors to mobilize their respective crowd disturbance management units in preparations for the Labor Day protest rally on May 1.

Rosales reminded his district directors to tap support elements like the elite Special Weapons and Tactics as well as medical teams and firetrucks.

According to Rosales, all CDM contingents from the five police districts as well as the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) would undergo seminars on human rights before they are fielded to various rally sites like the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo and the Liwasang Bonifacio.

“The conduct of a refresher course on human rights and police operational procedures is meant to instill strict compliance with law and the PNP (Philippine National Police) rules and regulations,” he said.

The Metro police chief said he would be visiting the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) tomorrow, the Manila and Southern Police Districts the next day and the Northern and Eastern Police Districts on April 29 to check their security preparations. He is also set to check on the preparedness of the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) on April 30.

“These inspections are necessary to assess and ensure the readiness of CDM units and adequacy of their equipment in the conduct of swift response to various threat groups and possible emergency situation that may arise during the celebration of Labor Day,” Rosales said.

Earlier, Rosales told The STAR that at least 5,000 anti-riot policemen would be deployed to ensure peaceful and orderly protest rallies on May 1.

Rosales also ordered his five district directors to hold dialogue with rally leaders and organizers. – With Non Alquitran