It’s final: No wage increase

Palace to let regional boards rule on labor’s salary demand

Amid labor groups’ petition to increase their pay, Malacañang on Friday gave Regional Wage Boards (RWBs) the prerogative to decide on a wage hike, saying that there will be no declared pay raise on Labor Day, May 1, itself.

During a press briefing, Palace deputy spokesman Charito Planas said that President Gloria Arroyo cannot intervene with the decision.

“Tomorrow [May 1], there [will be] no announcement of a wage increase, because it is the Regional Wage Boards that will decide on that,” Planas added.

“The President cannot intervene. They [RWBs] have their own functions,” she said.

Planas, however, confirmed that President Arroyo had met with representatives of different labor groups, where the President explained that a petition for a pay raise came late for her to be able to consider and review the request.

“There was a meeting between the President and labor sectors. I think they [labor groups] accepted the explanation of the President,” the Palace spokesman said.

Planas added that Mrs. Arroyo hopes a decision on the petition will be made before June 30, the end of Mrs. Arroyo’s term.

Meanwhile, the Malacañang spokesman cited achievements of the Arroyo administration, particularly in the labor sector.

Planas noted a significant decrease in labor protests since former President Corazon Aquino’s term (1986 to 1992) that contributed to employment growth and “industrial peace.”

Efforts in labor dispute resolution, according to the spokesman, contributed to a positive employment growth by 2.7 percent. From 34.53 million in 2008, Planas said, employment rose to 35.47 million.

The administration, according to her, dealt with only 173 labor strikes from 2001 to 2009, compared to Aquino’s six-year term with a total of 1, 846 strikes.

“There were other benefits that have been given [to the people] during the Arroyo administration like training, loans and livelihood programs,” Planas said.

The President is expected to deliver a speech on May 1 with Labor Secretary Marianito Roque at the Mall of Asia, SMX Convention Center in Pasay City (Metro Manila). –Adrienne Jesse A. Maleficio, Manila Times