GMA assures state workers of salary increases

ABOUT 1.5 million government employees are assured of continued wage increases in the succeeding three years, even as President Gloria Arroyo ends her term in Malacañang on June 30.

Through the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) III signed last year, all state workers will be receiving salary increases until 2013—to be given in four yearly tranches.

“Because of the Salary Standardization Law that we enacted during my administration, even when I am no longer President, you will continue to receive increases for the next three years,” President Arroyo said in her speech during the 16th anniversary of the Commission on Higher Educations (CHED) on Tuesday.

The basic salary, including step increments, where an employee may progress from Step 1 to Step 8 of the salary grade allocation, will be the primary component of the compensation framework.

The framework seeks to rationalize and standardize the basic salaries, allowances, benefits and incentives for government officials and employees.

Mrs. Arroyo explained in her speech that the value added tax law (E-VAT), which increased the VAT on taxable items to 12 percent, will be the main source of “fresh funds which we reinvested in our people through expanded and improved education, social services, infrastructure and salary increases.”

The President said that the salary increase granted in July last year covered everyone in government service including teachers in state universities and colleges, specialized schools and the staff of the CHED.

She added that the next round of salary increases for government workers is slated to be made this July. –Kristine Bunda and Kevin A. Santos, Manila Times