Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Wage clustering is better than regionalization but one national minimum wage is best

 


According to Partido Manggagawa (PM), the proposal of Representative Joel R. Chua (3rd District of Manila) to replace the current wage regionalization scheme with a wage clustering system is welcome in the sense that it founded on a recognition of the failures of the existing wage fixing system and thus opens a window for a discussion of a better mechanism. “Wage clustering is better than regionalization but one national minimum wage is best,” Rene Magtubo, PM national chair, explained.

 

He added that “We agree, as Rep. Chua asserts, that wage regionalization has led a huge gap between wages of regions that are not substantiated by differences in cost of living, and also has led to complexity in implementation as the DOLE has to monitor almost 50 minimum wages across the country.”

 

For this reason, PM is pushing for a national minimum wage as a floor. Differences between actual wages should be based on seniority, skills and productivity, according to the group.

 

“Also, while we insist that a replacement to the wage regionalization mechanism is also overdue, let us not lose sight of the immediate demand for a P150 across-the-board legislated wage recovery,” Magtubo emphasized.

 

PM is advocating for an “Apat na Dapat” in regard to the wage issue at the moment:

 

1. Php 150 across the board wage increase to recover wage loss due to inflation (immediate);

 

2. Non-wage benefits to enhance take home pay (for example: suspension of Philhealth contributions, reduction in withholding taxes for fixed income earners, social security subsidies, etc.);

 

3. Review and amend RA 6727 with the end in view of having uniform wage rates and satisfying the constitutional mandate of granting workers a living wage;

 

4. Enhance wage and benefits setting through collective bargaining negotiations by implementing the recommendations of the International Labour Organization’s High-Level Tripartite Mission so that workers can exercise freedom of association without harassment and intimidations, and unwarranted regulations. 

 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

MEDIA ADVISORY: Anti-mining rally at Batasan tomorrow

ALYANSA TIGIL MINA (ATM)

invites you to a

 

CREATIVE ACTION

 

Pagkaswapang ng Minahan, Wakasan!

Pagkamkam ng Kapangyarihan, Pigilan!

Unahin Tao at Kalikasan, ChaCha Ibasura!

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

9:00 AM – Assembly at Kasayahan St. cor Batasan Road

9:30 AM – March to South Gate of Batasang Pambansa

 

Important Note: The Program is targeted to be at South Gate of Batasang Pambansa. But, in case of dispersal, the contingent will proceed to the North Gate and hold the program there.

Various groups led by Alyansa Tigil Mina will march to the Batasang Pambansa to demand a stop to destructive mining operations and a rejection of proposals to change the 1987 Constitution. 

Specifically, the groups will denounce the machinations of House Speaker Martin Romualdez to amend the charter and serve his vested interests as they charge him of amassing wealth through his and his family’s mining companies.

 

Media coverage is requested.

 

Contact person:

Andrew Palangdao – +63 920 9845702

Friday, March 8, 2024

It takes decades for pro-women laws to get Congress’ nod compared to only 2 weeks for RBH 7


Haste doesn’t just make waste; it also bears a dubious agenda. This is according to women leaders in the labor movement who are celebrating International Women’s Day today.

 

Partido Manggagawa (PM) Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda, said they were referring to the Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 (RBH 7) that was swiftly approved by the House of Representatives’ Committee of the Whole with only six days of marathon hearing.

 

In an earlier statement, Miranda said the lightning approval of RBH 7 “is equivalent to a political hack which is unthinkable for a huge political body known for being laggard and protracted in its lawmaking process, especially when it comes to women and other social development agenda.”

 

Miranda cited as an example the lengthy years of enacting the reproductive health bill, which took 14 years, and now the proposed divorce law, as well as the right to safe and affordable abortion even for special cases, may even take longer.  The same is true, she added, when it comes to the proposed wage hike as the last act of Congress in legislating the wage hike was in 1989.

 

Photos of women’s rallies yesterday that includes demands against charter change and for public services can be accessed at PM FB: https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/ 

08 March 2024

Thursday, March 7, 2024

The biggest hack is amending the Constitution via RBH 6 and 7 – Partido Manggagawa



Filipinos may have kept guard protecting their Facebook accounts from possible hacking, a day after Meta confirmed there was a global outage in its system. What we failed to prevent, however, was the biggest political hack when the House of Representatives’ Committee of the Whole passed Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 (RBH7) Wednesday.

 

Partido Manggagawa (PM) Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda, said the haste in approving RBH 7 at the House of Representatives, “Is equivalent to a political hack which is unthinkable for a huge political body known for being laggard and protracted in its lawmaking process, especially when it comes to important social development agenda.”

 

Miranda cited as an example the lengthy years of enacting the reproductive health bill, which took 14 years, and now on the proposed divorce law, and right to safe and affordable abortion even for special cases. 

 

“Kapag para sa kababaihan, history book ang trato sa amin ng mga mambabatas. Pero kapag charter change para sa dayuhan, para silang Facebook, Twitter, o Tiktok sa pabilisang gumalaw,” lamented Miranda, as PM joined protest actions in the Senate with the World March of Women, and in Manila with In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity (iDefend) Movement, which is all part of the celebration of the International Women’s Day.

 

The same is true, she added, when it comes to the proposed wage hike legislation, with the last legislated wage hike enacted by Congress was in 1989. “When it comes to another agenda like charter change, which is an alien concern to most Filipinos, our lawmakers get fast and furious.”

 

Like RBH 6 now pending before the Senate, RBH 7 proposes to amend several economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution, particularly on areas covering public services, education, advertising, and land ownership, among others.

 

Once approved separately by both houses through a ¾ vote, the “unless otherwise provided by law” shall be added to all the sections under several articles of the Constitution that Congress so decides to be amended, particularly Article XII (Section 11), Article XIV (paragraph 2 of Section 4), and Article XVI (paragraph 2 of Section 11).

 

But Mirada emphasized, “changing those sections and articles of the Constitution won’t alter the age-old problems of poverty and discrimination confronting women today, which are more of an outcome of society’s capitalistic structure where social wealth is appropriated among the tiny few while governance is run under a dynastic political rule.” 

07 March 2024

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

PM Stands with Senator Risa Hontiveros Against Vilification by Quiboloy Camp

 

Photo from Daily Tribune

Partido Manggagawa stands with Senator Risa Hontiveros against the malicious attacks orchestrated by the Quiboloy camp, as the Committee on Women and Children resumed its public hearing yesterday on the latter’s alleged criminal offenses.

 

The group asserts that the arrest of Quiboloy is a fitting commemoration of women's month. Tomorrow women members of Partido Manggagawa are joining two mass actions; at the Senate in the morning and at Mehan Garden in the afternoon.

 

Senator Risa hoped that the man at the center of the controversy finally submits under the jurisdiction of the Senate for investigation, in aid of legislation. Quibuloy failed to show up again, prompting the committee to finally issue a warrant of arrest against the self-appointed son of god.

 

But in a bid to defend himself in absentia, Quibuloy sent his followers to the Senate yesterday to demand Senator Risa's resignation instead. His followers claim to seek justice for what they perceive as unjust treatment of their leader by both the US and Philippine governments. Yet, Quibuloy himself conveniently avoids facing the same demands for justice within his own kingdom. In retaliation, he stoops to vilifying the individual who dares to subject him to public scrutiny. 

 

Here he crossed the line long held and defended by the women’s movement.

 

Targeting a champion of women's and children's rights like Senator Risa Hontiveros is an affront to all women. It is deeply concerning to witness a cult leader, who shirks accountability for his crimes by hiding in the shadows, manipulating his female followers to shield him from scrutiny, and tarnishing the reputation of a prominent female leader. This behavior exposes him for what he truly is: an incorrigible male supremacist.

 

Senator Risa may stand as the lone woman in the Senate on this contentious issue of justice, but she stands fortified by the unwavering support from grassroots women across the nation. United in solidarity, this battle is already won, with or without Quibuloy's human body landing in jail. 

06 March 2024

Media Advisory: Pre-International Women's Day 2024 Mass actions today

Media Advisory

Pre-International Women's Day 2024 Events

Women's groups to mobilize for two actions

 

 

What:  Over 300 grassroots women from national organizations under the umbrella of the World March of Women - Pilipinas will march to the Senate building

 

When:  March 7, 2024 (Today), 9:00 AM

 

Where: From Film Center to Senate Building

 

Details:

 

Carrying the theme "Kababaihan: Ayaw sa Charter Change na Maka Dayuhan at Maka-Trapo!," the grassroots feminists will push strongly to stop Cha-Cha initiatives by the traditional politicians

 

Clad in purple shirts, will march, hold a program and perform a "counter-ChaCha dance"

 

Contact Person: Jean Enriquez 09778105326

 

 

 

What: Members of In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDefend) will hold a public action

 

When: March 7, 2024 (Today), 4:00 PM

 

Where: Mehan Garden Bonifacio Revolution Shrine near Manila City Hall

 

Details:

 

Women's groups will highlight the economic crises facing Filipino women today, including the food and fuel inflation, insufficient wages and the continuing violence of the government's war on drugs and war on terror. Participants will express a condemnation of Congress' moves to change the Constitution, instead of focusing on the dire socio-economic situation of the people.

 

As a photo opportunity, participants will mirror the Bonifacio monument in a tableau of women- mothers, workers, urban poor, indigenous, farmers, fisherfolk, students- struggling to survive and thrive in the current challenging socio-political and economic environment.

 

Opportunities will also be available for interviewing of women leaders.

 

Contact Person: Niza Concepcion 09395677987