MANILA – Bayan Muna party-list representative Carlos Zarate slammed the P20 wage hike an employers group and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) are supposedly discussing in light of the nine-year high inflation.
That amount would definitely not suffice to cover the soaring prices of goods, the lawmaker noted in a statement.
“Parang sinampal ang mga manggagawa sa P20 na sinasabing dagdag na sahod na sinasabi ng mga employers,” Zarate said, criticizing the Employers Confederation of the Philippines for its proposal.
“Ang kahilingan ng mga manggagawa ay ang P750 minimum na arawang sahod para makaagapay man lang sa hirap ng buhay sa ngayon,” he said.
Citing data from think tank IBON Foundation, Zarate noted the daily living wage of a family of five is P1,001.
The P20 wage hike would merely raise the present minimum wage in the Metro Manila to P532, or “barely half” of the expected daily living wage of one family, the lawmaker said Zarate.
Inflation hit a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“Government should do all it can now to shield Filipino consumers because this would aggravate the price shocks they are already experiencing,” Zarate said.
There is a pressing need to fast-track and certify as urgent House Bill 7787 which seeks a P750 national minimum wage, and House Bill 7653 repealing the “regressive”and “anti-poor” provisions of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.
“Hindi talaga uubra ang P20 na dagdag sahod, ni hindi ito mararamdaman ng mga manggagawa sa taas ng bilihin,” he said.
The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines is proposing a P344 wage increase. (GMA News)
