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Sunday, April 27, 2008
Aide admits running out of wage-hike 'tricks'
MANILA -- A Malacañang official admitted Saturday it had exhausted its "bag of tricks" to fast track wage hikes for laborers in time for the Labor Day.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez Jr. said there is nothing more to do if the regional wage boards lack time to come up with a decision by May 1.
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"If it's physically impossible to have a wage hike by then, there's nothing more we can do," Golez said.
He said the only consolation of sorts for workers would be President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's order to regional wage boards to report for duty on May 1 even if it is a holiday.
"If the wage hike orders cannot come in time for May 1, the President ordered the wage boards to continue working even on holidays and weekends," he said.
Earlier, National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) executive director Ciriaco Lagunzad III said wage boards are likely to announce decisions on petitions to increase wages between the last week of May and the first week of June.
According to Lagunzad, representatives of the regional wage boards met in Metro Manila Friday to discuss the wage hikes.
Represented as well were the trade and labor departments, and the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
He said the participants were briefed on prices of food, fuel and manufactured goods. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) also gave estimates on inflation.
Lagunsad, however, added that there are rules on the scheduling of hearings, and one week will not be enough time for the wage boards to conduct hearings and issue decisions. (JMR/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (April 27, 2008 issue)
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