Wages of private, public sector workers heading in opposite directions Retailers nix P150 legislated wage hikeDBM: P48m ready for gov’t specialists

By Othel Campos

AT LEAST 200,000 workers in the retail sector may lose their jobs if lawmakers push through with their proposed P150 across-the-board legislated daily wage hike, the country’s biggest group of retailers warned Monday. Opposing the legislated wage hike, the Philippine Retailers Association said the proposed measure will result in an increase in the unemployment rate and the possible shutdown of micro and small businesses.

“Our concern with the wage hike is that it will bring up labor prob -

PBBM, VP Sara vow raises for teachers’ pay

By Charles Dantes, Macon Ramos-Araneta, and Joel E. Zubano lems. We’re not talking here of labor unrest, but more of businesses retiring or laying off workers to squeeze the wage hike into the companies’ operating budget,” said PRA president Roberto Claudio.

“The legislated wage hike must be synchronized with our inflation and ability to generate investments,” he added.

He said the PRA is convinced that many of its members are bound to streamline their workforce to accommodate the possibility of increasing the daily minimum wage by at least

By Julito Rada

THE Department of Budget and Management is eyeing to increase the salary structures, allowances, and other benefits of state workers.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said P48 million has been allocated from the approved Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) budget this year to engage specialist services for a comprehensive review of the compensation and position classification system for the government sector.

“When it comes to implementing another round of increases, President

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed us to conduct a study to ensure that the compensation of our civilian government personnel becomes generally competitive to those working in the private sector,” she said.

“This is to encourage our kababayan (countrymen) to enter the government, and to motivate our existing employees to stay in government and perform well,” the Budget chief added.

A parallel review of the various benefits received across different ranks of the civil service spectrum is also being performed by the DBM to determine if or

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to fulfill his campaign promise of a salary increase for teachers as he ordered the Department of Education (DepEd) to look for ways to do it.

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PRESIDENT-PAINTER. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. repaints chairs in a classroom during his visit to Victorino Mapa High School in San Miguel, Manila on Monday as part of the annual Brigada Eskwela that prepares schools for the opening of classes on Aug. 29. Joining the President is Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte. Rolando Mailo