No to pittance pay increase, TUCP tells DOLE

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) expressed dismay over the announced wage increase of two-tranche thirty pesos in COLA only for minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region.

“We do not agree with this pittance COLA,” says TUCP President and former Senator Ernesto F. Herrera.  “We will file a motion for reconsideration.”

“However, we welcome the immediate implementation of the Wage Order, if only to provide temporary relief to many, many minimum wage earners and their families in the NCR.  We welcome the integration of the P22 cola from the last wage order,” says Herrera.

However, TUCP assails the Order which provides for allowance granted in two tranches (yet).

“The allowance does not address workers’ concerns articulated by TUCP that real wages have not improved through the years and that workers have not participated in real gains in production and productivity,” says TUCP

“The allowance also does not apply to workers receiving above the minimum. NCR and other RTWPBs continue to ignore the needs of other workers who are similarly affected by continuing prices in oil, electricity, water, tuition, and other basic commodities.”

We asked for P99, not only to cope with the increasing cost of basic commodities; not only to have an increase in real wages that was not granted to workers for decades; and not only to benefit from the government slogan of “inclusive growth;”  but to enable us, with our basic spending, to propel the economy to greater heights, says TUCP.

“The wage order, again contarary to law, rules and NWPC’s own guidelines, exempts Establishments whose Total Assets including those arising from loans but exclusive of the land on which the particular business entity’s office, plant and equipment are situated, are not more than P3 Million.  The BMBE law exempts from coverage only those BMBEs with certificates of authority,” says TUCP.

Meanwhile, TUCP urges DOLE to ensure compliance with the new wage order, while the MR is considered.

TUCP General Secretary Jun Umali said: “TUCP will mobilize our unions to monitor compliance and make sure that the wage order is implemented correctly,”

Umali urged DOLE to review and assess applications for exemptions, thoroughly.

“As soon as applications for exemptions are filed, TUCP proposes that DOLE and the concerned employer, together with affected workers should find ways to help the company turn around, without sacrificing the rights, benefits and welfare of workers,” says Umali.

“TUCP does not agree with exemptions from the Order, “minimum na, may exemption pa?!!”, but we recognize our responsibility to protect workers, preserve existing jobs, help distressed companies to recover, and avoid closures,” says Umali.