ON THE eve of May 1, International Labor Day, the contractual workers organization Kilos Na Manggagawa slammed President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that a wage increase was not a option right now.

Kilos Na Manggagawa filed a petition for wage increase at the NCR Regional Wage Board last April 26, 2019. Their petition is to add P213 on top of P537. “Workers are calling for a raise in the minimum wage to P750.”

Duterte’s declaration was echoed as expected by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines or ECOP. Duterte, his various spokespersons, apologists and defenders among the so-called DDS groups keep harping that the economy is on an uptick because big businesses keep raking in giant profits. Workers are not demanding anything outside of what they deserve--it is precisely their hard work and productivity that have realized these profits for corporations.

Reports stated that the country’s top 1,000 corporations continue to post strong earnings in 2017 amid a backdrop of sustained economic growth.

The business pages have it that parent companies that made it to the list earned a cumulative P11.53 trillion in gross revenue and P1.33 trillion in net income in 2017, 11.7% and 6.4% more than in the preceding year. Also, parent companies that made it to the list earned a cumulative P11.53 trillion in gross revenue and P1.33 trillion in net income in 2017, 11.7% and 6.4% more than in the preceding year. These are not amounts to scoff at--companies are making money, and they are doing so at the expense of their workers and their families. Regardless of how much wealth workers generate for companies, their wages and benefits remain nailed to the floor. This is a massive injustice.

Multinational companies continue to be permanent fixtures of the country’s economy throughout the years. In 2017, earnings by multinationals grew by 12% to P4.04 trillion, accounting for 35% of the Top 1000. In the meantime, exporting firms included in the Top 1000 recorded P2.11 trillion in revenues, nine percent more than in the previous year.

As companies expand their businesses and scope of operations, their workers get left behind in terms of the remuneration they receive. When workers demand a wage hike, it is highly justified. Duterte should stop being a spokesman for corporations and stand up for workers.

Kilos Na Manggagawa also decries how top government officials are now enjoying huge salary hikes. Workers deserve the P750 daily minimum wage demand they are demanding. Instead of making pathetic excuses, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Duterte presidency itself should acknowledge this. Duterte himself is getting a P102,000 monthly salary increase this year after he approved the release of funds for the fourth tranche of salary hike for government officials.

All workers and their families, as well social justice advocates should support this fight to alleviate the economic burdens the working people bear because of the TRAIN law, high oil prices, and high inflation. (Jen Pajel)