THE Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) asked the government Friday, March 29, to increase the salary of private sector workers, who it said similarly need pay adjustments considering the high prices of basic commodities.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier issued an executive order allowing the salary hike for government workers, military, and uniformed personnel.
“We need it direly given the recent spikes in the prices of basic commodities and the rates of electricity and water services,” said KMU chairman Elmer Labog in a statement.
“Even before the infamous Train law was implemented, prices of basic goods have been increasing. Immediately after the imposition of new taxes, prices rose alarmingly quickly, thus leaving the prices of many basic goods beyond the means of working class households,” he added.
Labog said Duterte has no reason to deny such a demand from the workers since he himself is benefiting from his issuance of Executive Order (EO) 76.
Under EO 76, Duterte himself is supposedly set to get a P102,000 monthly salary increase this year after approving the release of funds for the fourth tranche of salary hike for government officials.
“If Duterte had the slightest sense of social justice left, he would support the call for a substantial wage increase for private sector workers across the country,” he said.
“It is high time that Duterte does something for Filipino workers and their families, the least he can and should do is to order a substantial wage increase for workers,” Labog added. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)