Palace tosses wage hike moratorium to DOLE

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang tossed yesterday the matter of the wage hike moratorium to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), saying it was a very “sensitive” issue.

“Job generation is a priority but the concern also is how do we maintain the balance between labor and management. We have to study carefully what will be the acceptable balance between the two,” Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Businessmen have been calling for a deferment of any wage increase this year, saying they are just starting to recover from the slowdown in global demand.

Edgardo Lacson, president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), urged the Aquino administration to focus on job generation instead of considering proposals for a minimum wage increase.

“Why is the government focusing on protecting the privileged few who have jobs? The government must find ways to give more people access to employment and to not increase the minimum wage,” Lacson said.

He said the government should focus on helping the ten million unemployed or underemployed Filipinos, adding that minimum wage earners are already receiving fiscal benefits for two years, plus an additional tax exemption.

“Given this, there is no need to give them additional benefits. There should be no more increases in the minimum wage until the end of the year,” Lacson stressed. –Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star)