MANILA, Philippines – Amid rising commodity prices and fare hikes, a labor group will seek a P55 hike in the minimum wage for workers in Metro Manila.
“It will be P55 minimum for the National Capital Region. In other regions, we might be asking for a higher increase,” former senator Ernesto Herrera, secretary-general of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), said.
Herrera said the wage hike is necessary to help workers cope with rising prices of basic goods and services.
He said consumer prices are projected to increase by 10% from January to July this year, while fares for public transit systems such as the LRT and MRT will go up by March.
“Whatever increase in the economy, kelangan may share ang manggagawa. Unfortunately, there is a decline in the real purchasing power of the peso and we have not compensated that.”
For the other regions, Herrara said the amount of wage hikes will vary.
“The minimum wage, especially in Davao, Cebu and Region IV, is very much lower than real growth of the regions,” he pointed out.
The TUCP sought a P75 across-the-board daily wage increase for Metro Manila laborers in March last year, but only P22 was approved by government.
Asked whether another increase was possible anytime soon since the country’s wage boards are only allowed to grant an increase once a year, Herrera said: “In the case of extraordinary economic distortion, pwede.”
“There is no legal restriction. On the contrary, there is a need to increase wages of the workers.”
Herrara said wage increases should not be dictated solely by the impact of inflation, but also the government’s mandate to improve workers’ standard of living.
TUCP will file its wage hike petitions this week or early next week, he said. –abs-cbnNEWS.com
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