Members of Koalisyon Laban sa ChaCha convened
today at Quiapo Church to observe Labor Day and emphasize the urgent need of
workers for wage increases, vehemently opposing Charter Change.
The pre-Labor Day mass was presided over by
Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, head of Caritas Philippines, and also one
of the convenors of the Koalisyon. Numerous leaders and members of labor groups
and people's organizations were present.
“In the spirit of St. Joseph, the patron saint of
workers, we acknowledge the hard work of our workers to provide for their
families and to uplift our economy. We offer special prayers and blessings to
them as they continue to fight for dignity and rights,” Bagaforo said.
Coalition members, composed of various religious
groups and people’s organizations, underscored the importance of enacting and
enabling laws that guarantee living wages, labor rights and protections, and
other safeguards in the worsening economic and climate conditions.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, also a convenor, called
for the immediate passage of Senate Bill No. 2534 or the "P100 Daily
Minimum Wage Increase Act of 2023”, in which she guaranteed the inclusion of
not just regular workers, but also individuals employed under contractual
agreements, sub-contractual agreements, or manpower agencies earning the
minimum wage.
“Umento sa sahod ang isinisigaw ng ating mga
manggagawa. Iyan ang tunay nilang kailangan. Mariin tayong nananawagan na mas
pagtuunan ng oras at panahon ang pagpasa ng mga batas na makakapagbigay ng kagyat
na ginhawa sa kanila, hindi ang ChaCha.,” Hontiveros said.
Likewise, Judy Miranda, Secretary General of
Partido Manggagawa also emphasized the urgency of legislating daily wage
increments, citing the Senate's approval of the said bill last February.
“Sa 'Sahod Itaas, ChaCha Iatras', mariing
nakikibaka ang mga manggagawa laban sa patuloy na pagtaas ng mga bilihin at
mababang pasahod. Hiling ng mga manggagawa na maisabatas ang dagdag sahod kada
araw, na kung saan ang P100 na panukala ay inaprubahan na ng Senado,”
Miranda also highlighted the four key issues
crucial to the labor sector, dubbed as the "Apat Na Dapat" (Four
Musts): lowering daily expenses, raising wages, creating jobs, and addressing
poverty. She stressed that these priorities reflect workers' need for concrete
governmental actions, and not the proposed constitutional amendments.
“Ang pagbalewala ng pamahalaan sa pangangailangan
ng mga ordinaryong manggagawa habang itinutulak ang walang kabuluhang Charter
Change ay sumisira sa prinsipyo ng "primacy of labor over capital" ng
Konstitusyon,” Miranda said.
NEWS RELEASE
30 April 2024
