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Thursday, April 24, 2008
Government workers to get more pay adjustments
MANILA -- Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya said state workers can expect more pay increases until the end of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's term in 2010.
"Two more pay hikes for government employees are being planned and will be implemented in 2009 and 2010," Andaya told the House committee on appropriations hearing House Bill (HB) 41, which upgrades the compensation of members of the judiciary.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
The President has already ordered a 10 percent increase in the salary of less than a million state employees starting July 1 as part of efforts to cushion the impact of the rising prices of rice and other basic commodities.
Congress has already agreed to pass the bills on cheaper medicines and tax exemption for minimum wage earners before May 1 as a Labor Day gift to workers.
"Insofar as the last two remaining budget proposals that President Arroyo will submit to Congress, each will contain a provision for a salary compensation increase for state workers," Andaya said.
Andaya told panel chairman Albay Representative Edcel Lagman that the funding for the next round of salary increases would be included in the next proposed budget, which he said is already being prepared by Malacañang.
He said the government would be setting aside P80 billion to fund the next series of annual wage increases.
"By next year, the total cost of the three salary increases will be around P60 billion a year, which speaks volumes on how this government has treated with concern the welfare of its personnel," he said.
The consecutive increases, Andaya said, will be consolidated in a new salary standardization bill.
"This particular law will revamp the pay scale and eventually increase the salary rates for government employees," he said.
Andaya said the salary standardization law is needed to synchronize the salary adjustments covering all workers regardless of profession.
"A dentist who is employed by the government, for example, will be asking for a pay increase. It would distort the pay scale if we grant an increase for his specific profession only. Any salary hikes should be holistic, encompassing, and across the board," he said.
Andaya said the new bill would not only restructure the old salary standardization law, but it will also give the government a clearer "guideline on how much its employees should receive during pay increases." (WV/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (April 24, 2008 issue)
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