Employees have but to obtain a major wage improve after three Labor Days below the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in line with Makabayan lawmakers ACT Lecturers Get together-list Rep. France Castro (L), Gabriela Get together-list Rep. Arlene Brosas (C), and Kabataan Get together-list Rep. Raoul Manuel (R). —INQUIRER.web file photographs
MANILA, Philippines — Employees have but to obtain a major wage hike after three Labor Days below the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc mentioned on Friday.
In an announcement after the nation celebrated Labor Day, ACT Lecturers party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel known as out the Marcos administration’s alleged indifference to staff’ struggles.
In accordance with Castro, no enormous wage hike has been applied even when staff have endured excessive costs of fundamental items and providers. As an alternative of wage hikes, the administration has resorted to free prepare rides for these utilizing the Gentle Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).
“Sa ikatlong Labor Day ni Marcos, wala pa ring konkretong solusyon sa gutom at kahirapan ng mga manggagawa. Habang tumataas ang presyo ng bilihin, nagpapabingi-bingihan ang administrasyon sa hinaing ng mga manggagawa para sa nakabubuhay na sahod,” Castro mentioned.
(For the third Labor Day below Marcos, we nonetheless don’t have any concrete answer to the poverty and starvation of our staff. Whereas costs of fundamental items are rising, the administration is taking part in deaf to staff’ pleas for residing wages.)
“Apat na araw lang bang libreng sakay sa LRT at MRT ang kaya mong ibigay sa matagal nang hiling ng mga manggagawa para sa nakabubuhay na sweldo?” she requested.
(Is the federal government solely giving staff a four-day free journey on the LRT and MRT as an answer to their name for livable wages?)
Brosas, in the meantime, questioned why the President retains on relegating wage will increase to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productiveness Board (RTWPB) when these boards have solely elevated salaries at a low price.
“Nakakagalit na sa gitna ng tumataas na inflation at presyo ng mga bilihin, ang sagot ng Palasyo ay ‘pag-aaralan pa.’ Ilang taon na ba ang kailangan para pag-aralan ang kalagayan ng mga manggagawang Pilipino? The employees want instant aid, not limitless research,” she mentioned.
(It’s infuriating that amid rising inflation charges and the price of fundamental requirements, the Palace’s reply is that they may research proposals. What number of years are wanted to review the state of Filipino staff? The employees want instant aid, not limitless research.)
Throughout the celebration of Labor Day, Marcos assured staff on Thursday that the federal government is learning wage hike proposals — including that these can be “addressed via the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productiveness Boards.”
In July 2024, the RTWPB accredited a P35 hike within the every day minimal pay of staff in Metro Manila, pushing it from P610 to P645. Nonetheless, many teams imagine this was an insult to staff because it doesn’t translate to tangible comforts.
READ: Marcos to staff: Gov’t learning wage hike name
At the moment, there are proposals from the Home of Representatives and the Senate looking for to institutionalize wage will increase.
Final January 30, the Home committee on labor and employment accredited a substitute invoice that consolidates three wage hike proposals — Home Invoice (HB) Nos. 514, 7568, and 7871 — which proposes a P200 per day hike for minimal wage earners.
Finally, the proposal was accredited by the Home on second studying final February 3.
READ: Home OKs P200 minimal wage hike invoice on 2nd studying
Final February 24, the Senate accredited a invoice that seeks to extend minimal wages by P100 per day. The Home and the Senate, nonetheless, haven’t but met to deal with the variations of their legislated wage hike proposals.
Makabayan famous that the Home proposal will not be sufficient, and this even faces obstruction from Malacañang.
“In terms of implementing insurance policies that favor massive enterprise and international traders, the administration strikes with lightning pace. However with regards to staff’ welfare, abruptly there’s no urgency,” Manuel mentioned.
“Bakit kapag para sa mga mayayaman, mabilis ang aksyon ng gobyerno, pero kapag para sa mga manggagawa, laging ‘kailangan pang pag-aralan’?” he requested.
(Why is it that insurance policies for the wealthy get fast motion from the federal government, however initiatives for staff must be studied?)
In accordance with Makabayan, Marcos ought to certify the Home model of wage will increase as pressing if he actually cares for the employees, in order that the nineteenth Congress can approve the measure.
“Ang P200 wage improve ay pumasa na sa second studying sa Home of Representatives. Kung talagang could malasakit ang administrasyong Marcos sa mga manggagawa, i-certify niya ito as pressing para maipasa bago mag-adjourn ang nineteenth Congress,” Makabayan mentioned.
(The P200 wage improve has hurdled second studying on the Home of Representatives. If the Marcos administration actually cares for staff, he ought to certify this as pressing in order that it may be handed and accredited earlier than the nineteenth Congress adjourns.)
“Hindi pahayag ng pakikiramay ang kailangan ng mga manggagawa kundi konkretong aksyon. What Filipino staff want will not be empty rhetoric throughout Labor Day however concrete motion via a legislated wage improve,” they added.
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(Employees want concrete actions, not want phrases of sympathy. What Filipino staff want will not be empty rhetoric throughout Labor Day however concrete motion via a legislated wage improve.)