No surprises on May 1, Palace tells labor groups

THE ARROYO government is scrounging for non-wage benefits to present to the country’s workers on May 1, telling representatives of labor groups who gathered in Malacañang yesterday that much of these wage alternatives had already been given.

Labor Secretary Marianito D. Roque told reporters in a briefing yesterday that the government would announce P40 million worth of livelihood assistance during Labor Day ceremonies this Saturday.

The amount, he added, is about a fifth of the government’s P200-million budget for livelihood programs this year.

“We have to think of [other] non-wage benefits that we can give. Naibigay na lahat [We have given everything],” Mr. Roque said after President Gloria M. Arroyo met with leaders of 50 labor groups over lunch in the Palace yesterday.

“The President will make a statement. Let’s see what will come out on May 1. We are studying things because we have already given almost everything.”

The Palace reiterated to the labor leaders that regional tripartite wage and productivity boards are unlikely to come up with a decision on pending pay raise petitions by this weekend. “We told labor leaders that the seven wage petitions being discussed by the regional tripartite boards might not be decided by Labor Day,” Mr. Roque said.

Wage hike petitions have been filed in Metro Manila as well as Regions 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 10 (Northern Mindanao) and 11 (Davao) since last December. Submitted by several groups led by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the amounts range from P50-P128.60.

Those who attended the Palace meeting said the President did not give expectations for May 1. The larger groups included TUCP, Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines, Philippine Government Employees Association, National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines and National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE).

Rafael E. Mapalo, a TUCP director who was present at the meeting, said TUCP vice-president Alejandro C. Villaviza acknowledged benefits extended by the government to the labor sector for the entire nine-year Arroyo presidency. “[Mr. Villaviza’s presentation said] the laborers have been the government’s partners through thick and thin in the past nine years. Mrs. Arroyo did not give any statement,” Mr. Mapalo said by phone.

For his part, Jose P. Umali, Jr., national president of NUBE who was also present at the meeting, said this was the first time in nine years that Mrs. Arroyo did not commit anything for May 1. “It was very unusual of her not to say anything to the labor leaders in connection to the Labor Day,” he said. “No talk, no mistakes. But I’m happy because there was no flattery. We have nothing to expect on May 1.”

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) was not invited to the meeting, it was learned from the group’s secretary-general, Roger M. Soluta, earlier in the day.

In a statement, KMU Chairman Elmer Labog said laborers have “nothing to be thankful of the president,” at the same time criticizing those who attended the meeting. “Something was definitely cooking at the Malacañang lunch [yesterday]. They are probably concocting a measly bonanza for Labor Day in an effort to douse the growing discontent of Filipino workers,” Mr. Labog said.

The wage boards last approved a raise in daily minimum wage in 2008. There were no petitions filed in 2009, as labor groups acknowledged businesses’ straits amid the financial crisis. Instead, the government provided only productivity improvement measures such as skills and value-based human resource training, while non-wage benefits included shuttle services and scholarship programs for children of government employees and easier access to Botika ng Bayan outlets. — G. S. dela Peña, Businessworld