[APWSLMembers 278] June 26, 2006 news release: P25 wage hike for NCR insulting "Workers poor not beggars, we deserve more" - KMU

[Kilusang Mayo Uno]

KMU NEWS RELEASE
June 26, 2006


P25 wage hike for NCR insulting
"Workers poor not beggars, we deserve more" - KMU

The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today said the 
decision released by the National Capital Region (NCR) Regional 
Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) issuing an increase 
of P25 for Metro Manila based minimum wage earners is "an insult to 
all workers," as another round of oil price increase today is 
expected to push the existing daily cost of living of P748 to higher levels.

"NCR wage board director Ricardo Martinez already admitted that the 
P25 wage hike is a compromise decision to appease employers. With 
this, workers have no reasons to be satisfied at all. Last year, the 
wage board also granted a P25 wage hike for minimum wage earners in 
the Metro with Wage Order no. 11, but still, the assertion for more 
significant wage adjustments continued. If not for Malacanang's 
loyalty to big business and employers, the Congress would have passed 
the P125 legislated wage increase across-the-board for all workers 
nationwide," said KMU Secretary General Joel Maglunsod.

He said that KMU never expected the regional wage boards to grant a 
substantial wage adjustment. "Wage boards were put up precisely to 
serve the economic interests of employers and hoodwink the workers. 
While we are demanding for the abolition of the regional wage boards, 
labor groups like the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) 
swallows hook, line and sinker the wage board trap.  The wage board 
serves as one of the stumbling block against any legislated wage hike 
for workers."

"Legislated wage increase is still the way to go because wage boards 
could only provide measly wage adjustments and emergency cost of 
living allowances (ECOLA).  The P25 increase can only go as far as a 
kilo of rice or 2 cans of sardines.  The arms of poverty grip not 
only minimum wage earners, but also those who earn more than the 
minimum wage.  Though we are poor, we are not beggars, do not give us 
alms. Give workers what is due to them and their families," Maglunsod 
further said.

The labor group said that despite the P350 minimum wage and ECOLA in 
NCR, it is not enough to cover the P748 family living wage estimated 
by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) for a family 
of six in Metro Manila. "Even if a family has two breadwinners, their 
combined earnings are not enough to cover the cost for food 
expenditures and other daily expenses which now amounts P748," said 
KMU Spokesperson Presto Suyat.

Suyat said that the government again gave in to the whims of 
employers who are refusing a legislated wage hike that will fortify 
the Filipino workers' fight for a national minimum wage and will deem 
worthless the regional wage boards that were put up to accommodate 
the interests of employers in the wage determination process." ###




-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.4/375 - Release Date: 6/25/2006