No wage hike on Labor Day - Palace

MANILA, Philippines - There will be no announcements of wage hikes from President Arroyo on Labor Day but workers may expect a P200-million non-wage and livelihood assistance package.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque made this clear in a press briefing, which followed a meeting over lunch with Mrs. Arroyo and some 50 labor leaders at Malacañang.

“(Minimum) wage determination system is not by legislative or executive (action) but through tripartite, so we leave it to the boards,” Roque said.

He was referring to the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) composed of representatives from government, workers, and employers.

“It’s not for the President to decide. I myself can’t decide on wages,” he said.

Representatives of workers’ groups did not raise the matter of wage hikes with the President.

Roque said the labor leaders only asked Mrs. Arroyo to ensure the continuity of livelihood and assistance programs.

There are pending petitions for wage increases in seven RTWPBs, including Metro Manila. It usually takes weeks before such petitions are resolved.

On May 1, Mrs. Arroyo will perform her last official Labor Day function as President by leading a job and livelihood fair at the SMX Mall of Asia. Similar livelihood fairs are scheduled across the country, with about 80,000 jobs at stake, Roque said.

He said Mrs. Arroyo has ordered the allocation of P200 million under DOLE’s Workers’ Income Augmentation Program.

He said worker’s groups or cooperatives may seek assistance for business projects ranging from P100,000 to P3 million.

Roque said Mrs. Arroyo doesn’t have much to announce on Labor Day since she has already extended numerous assistance to workers in her nine years as president.

Disappointed

The Federation of Free Workers expressed disappointment over Malacañang’s pronouncement.

“We really thought that President Arroyo would be giving workers a memorable Labor Day’s celebration by announcing a salary increase or at least a directive to hasten the resolution of pending wage hike petitions before she finally steps down from office,” Julius Cainglet, FFW spokesman, said.

Cainglet noted that the government has been boasting of economic gains under the Arroyo administration and yet it has failed to improve the workers’ condition.

“It seems that workers would just have to make do with an entertainment package on Labor Day,” he added.

Employers are against salary increases, saying most companies are still recovering from the economic slump.

Protests, campaign

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) chairman Elmer Labog said various trade unions in Metro Manila and nearby provinces would hold proclamation rallies for their candidates for the coming elections side by side with protest activities on May 1.

“We are going to hold our traditional Labor Day protest rally, which will also serve as proclamation rally for the candidates our unions will be supporting come election day,” Labog said in an interview.

Labog said KMU and affiliate unions are finalizing a list of candidates to endorse during the May 1 rally at Liwasang Bonifacio.

“Workers will be endorsing candidates for president, vice president and a number of senators,” he said.

The endorsement, Labog said, is expected to translate to 600,000 votes for the KMU-backed candidates.

He declined to reveal the names on the list, but hinted that the KMU would be supporting Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar and his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda.

“Syempre kung saan naka linya si Ka Satur (Whoever is allied with Ka Satur),” Labog said, referring to NP senatorial candidate Satur Ocampo.

Aside from endorsing candidates, the militant labor group will also present a 10-point Labor Day agenda, including a P125 across-the-board increase in the daily take-home pay of workers nationwide.

Labog noted that under the Arroyo administration, wages have not increased significantly despite the surge in prices of basic commodities.

“The minimum wage in Metro Manila in 2001 was P252 but the cost of living during that year was P509 with a difference of P257. Now in 2010, the minimum wage is P382 but the cost of living is P917 with a difference of P535, more than double the previous amount in 2001,” Labog pointed out.

Since June 2001, Labog said, there have only been three minimum wage increases and only four Emergency Cost of Living Allowance (ECOLA) adjustments. – With Mayen Jaymalin