Amid ‘exodus’ of govt workers for jobs abroad, VP Binay urges review of salary standardization law

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday threw his support behind proposals to review the Salary Standardization Law to stem the reported exit of government workers for higher-paying jobs abroad.

Binay, the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino worker concerns, said government should be able to offer its workers a compensation package that can let them at least sustain their families.

“It is simply not right that the country is deprived of the technical knowledge and expertise of Filipinos who would otherwise be more than willing to serve the country, but are forced to look for greener pastures just to meet the most basic needs of their families,” Binay said on his Facebook account.

He made the call amid reports that a veteran weather specialist and eight aerobridge operators of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) left for higher-paying jobs abroad.

Veteran PAGASA forecaster Ricky Fabregas left for Congo for a higher-paying job while PAGASA forecasters said they are still waiting for their benefits since January to arrive.

Binay also pushed for a review of the salaries and benefits especially of highly skilled workers, to stop the “brain drain” involving highly-skilled government workers.

“Aside from ensuring safety and efficiency, our government workers perform public services necessary to implement the national government’s development policy and address concerns of the business sector,” he said. – VVP, GMA News