Saturday, September 29, 2007 More sectors blast P9 wage increase
A LABOR group called the approved P9 wage increase for Metro Cebu a “joke” and described the decision of the wage as inconsistent with the interest of the working sector.
“Usa ni ka bugal-bugal. Instead of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) determining how much our employees must receive, it is giving attention to the reasons provided by the business sector.
Inutil na ni nga agency,” said Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)-Visayas chairperson Joe Tomongha (This agency is inutile).
Tomongha reacted to the decision of the RTWPB 7, in a 4-2 vote last Tuesday, to raise the minimum wage in Metro Cebu from P241 to P250.
The new rate might take effect in January next year yet.
Tomongha said that P9 increase is not enough to bring back the purchasing power of the labor sector in Metro Cebu.
“We wanted a P136.20 adjustment in the daily salary in order for employees to cope with the high cost of living,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
He added that they would also propose that the representatives of the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry be limited to the presentation of the economic status of the country “because they always favor the businessmen.”
“The voting powers should only include that of the labor and of the business sector. The chairman of the wage board can always break a tied decision,” Tomongha said.
Meanwhile, some 20 leaders of APL-Visayas chapters held a demonstration yesterday in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs office, near Plaza Independencia in downtown Cebu City, to show their support for the protesters in Myanmar.
“We are calling on the international community to join us in denouncing the military rule in Myanmar,” said Tomongha.
He said that the Philippine Government already has the manifestations of a military rule and a martial law regime “especially with the approved controversial Human Security Act of 2007.”
“If what is happening in Myanmar could not be stopped, it is possible it will be copied or it will happen in our country,” Tomongha said. (NRC)
