Wage Board oks P11.50 increase in daily pay But labor group slams it as “an insult to dignity”

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines— The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-Region 6 on Thursday approved an P11.50 increase in the daily minimum wage of workers in Western Visays, but a labor group protested against it.

The General Alliance of Workers Association yesterday reacted to it by saying, “It is not only an insult to our dignity as workers but it is demeaning and dehumanizing.”

GAWA secretary-general Wennie Sancho, who was also the labor representative in the board said: “We vehemently oppose and condemn in the strongest possible term the issuance of Wage Order No. 22 by the regional wage board with a measly amount of P11.50 per day.”

Sancho then called for the abolition of the regional wage board and demanded for a national minimum wage instead, accusing government and management representatives in the regional body of having no “regard to the miserable plight of the workers.”

The board’s decision was “outrageous and contemptible,” said Sancho, adding that it failed in its mandate to provide adequate wages that would reduce social and economic inequality for the workers by raising their quality of life to a level of human dignity.

“Instead of providing a substantial remuneration to ameliorate the economic deprivation of the workers, the board has become an instrument of oppression by implementing the wage freeze policy of the government and assenting to the demand of the capitalist for more profit,” said Sancho.

Sancho described the wage order as an imperial edict that continued to trample upon the rights of the workers for a just and living wage, and driving them further to severe economic strain.

“This is an added form of injustice to the countless poor and toiling masses who live in forlorn hope of a life that will never be. As a result of this injustice, the poor workers will continue to wallow in hunger and poverty,” he said.

Sancho said he refused to sign the new wage order “as a manifestation and protest,” adding that he did not want to be a part of the “oppressive decision,” which he tagged further as a mockery upon the workers.

Other representatives of the wage board, such as those in government and management sectors, have yet to issue an statement over the protest of GAWA. (FREEMAN)