Friday, April 18, 2008 Palace told to certify as urgent P125 legislated wage hike By Malu Cadelina Manar
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The militant Gabriela party-list has urged Malacañang to certify as urgent the P125-legislated wage hike.
Gabriela party-list Representative Liza Maza, assistant minority floor leader, said it would be best for Malacañang to certify as urgent bills that will implement a legislated wage increase for workers rather than to just allow the regional wage boards to decide on the wage hikes.
"Workers have long clamored for a P125 across the board legislated wage hike. While this amount would still not give workers an income that would be at par with the daily cost of living, this amount would at least give significant relief from the high cost of commodities," said Maza in a statement Thursday.
Maza said while wage boards may decide on a P20 wage hike or even lower, this cannot even buy a kilo of rice.
She insisted the legislated increase would benefit the estimated 33.7 million Filipino workers, including regular employees and those under contract as well.
Moreover, she said wage boards should do away with mere increases in the cost of living allowance (Cola).
"The Cola increases do not translate to an increase in other compensation and benefits based on the workers' basic wage like the overtime pay and night differentials," she explained.
Maza also cautioned Representative Magtanggol Gunigundo, chair of the House committee on labor, for prematurely dismissing the legislated wage hike proposal.
"Bills filed in Congress should at the minimum be discussed and debated on," she stressed.
Gunigundo had earlier said he preferred to let the regional wage boards do the work.
