Meager wage hike

WHEN it comes to workers’ wages in the Philippines, how much is enough?

Well, as far as labor groups are concerned, it’s never enough—and apparently will never be adequate to keep body and soul together.

The recent decision of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Metro Manila grants a P40 increase in the daily minimum wage of private sector workers in the National Capital Region.

This would bring the daily minimum wage of workers in the non-agriculture sector from P570 to P610, and from P533 to P573 for the agriculture sector, service and retail establishments employing 15 or less workers, and manufacturing establishments regularly employing less than 10 workers.

According to the Department of Labor and Employment, the wage hike, which will take effect on July 16, will “directly benefit” 1.1 million minimum wage earners in Metro Manila, while about 1.5 million full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage “may also indirectly benefit as a result of upward adjustments at the enterprise level arising from the correction of wage distortion.”

But this latest wage hike has been slammed by labor groups.

Two of these groups, the Kilusang Mayo Uno and Kilos Na Manggagawa, described the P40 wage hike as meager, and grossly insufficient to sustain the daily needs of their families.

We agree completely with Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and wish the Senate would take up the legislative proposal again in the upper chamber, as our workers really need help at this time

The two labor groups urged the public to denounce the administration’s supposed lack of concern toward laborers.

They also called on the government to check the welfare of workers outside Metro Manila since the wage hike was only for