‘Convince employers to comply with wage order’

MANILA, Philippines — Labor groups yesterday called on the Department of Labor and Employment to convince employers to comply with the wage order and provide workers the first tranche of P60, despite the issuance of a writ of injunction by a Pasig court.

In a statement, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said the additional pay of P60 to workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) would not result to massive unemployment or closure of businesses.

“That is only 8.63 percent of the previous P695 minimum wage. With the second tranche of P25 by January next year, it will only total P85 or 12.23 percent of the daily wage… The sky will not fall, factories will not disappear and unemployment will not take place because of this,” FFW president Sonny Matula said.

According to FFW national vice president Jun Ramirez, giving the needed pay hike would help boost the country’s economy.

“Workers will not let the P60 sleep in their pockets. They will use this money to buy something from the market, sari-sari store, carinderia and pharmacies. They will use it as payment when riding jeeps or give it to their children as school allowance,” Ramirez said.

The FFW appealed to the Office of the President, Employers Confederation of the Philippines and employers in Metro Manila to support the immediate compliance with NCR Wage Order 27.

“That amount of P60 is not a wrecking ball. That is purchasing power, which makes the cash registers alive, makes jeepney run and canteens remain in business. It helps the economy grow,” the workers said.

Earlier, Tolentino said the labor department would exhaust all remedies to challenge the preliminary injunction issued by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court 152 against the implementation of the wage order issued by the NCR Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board.