Government double-speak on wage hikes – TUCP

PRESS RELEASE

HON. RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C. MENDOZA        April 6, 2010
Trade Union Congress Party-List (TUCP)
TUCP-PGEA Compound, Maharlika cor. Masaya Streets, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel/Fax: (632) 351-3757/924-7551

Government double-speak on wage hikes – TUCP

TUCP party-list representative Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza charged NEDA with “double-speak” on the economy and wages.

Mendoza was commenting on the statement attributed to Dennis Arroyo, director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) National Planning and Policy Staff, who had said earlier that “more time is needed to evaluate the recovery, since there is still a possibility the global economy will enter into a double-dip recession”.

Arroyo warned of a “Round 2” of the crisis which would consequently affect the Philippine economy through declining exports and imports, as well as foreign direct investments.

Mendoza recalled that the Philippine government had assured time and time again that the country was never in recession and was among the few countries spared by the global financial crisis.

“Our government is engaged in double-speak, talking through both ends of its mouth, first saying that the recession is over, and now creating an imaginary ghost in the room” said Mendoza.

“Now that workers are asking for a share in the continuing real growth in production, productivity and the economy, these same people would warn against untimely wage adjustments” Mendoza stressed.

“Real wages of workers have gone down through the years while the other sectors managed to have their good times- global crisis or no global crisis” explained Mendoza.

Mendoza called on the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards to do their job and follow procedures set by the law and the rules on wage fixing.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines earlier filed petitions for a P75-P100-per-day increase in Metro Manila, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu.

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For inquiries, please call Rep. Raymond D.C. Mendoza at 0908-8800027.