Press
Release
April
27, 2013
The
labor party Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) released its own study of the cost of
living for a family of six in Metro Manila as of April this year that reveals
it has already reached P1,217 a day. "This
estimate shows that the gap between the P456 minimum wage in the NCR and the
present cost of living is a yawning P761 or 167% of the ordinary wage. Even if
both parents work—which is the buy one, take one policy of the government—then
their combined income will not be enough to feed the entire family," stated Renato Magtubo, PM chairperson.
The
group’s cost of living estimate did not provide for savings and social security
which in the government’s basket of goods and services constitutes 10% of the
cost of living. Furthermore, PM's study did not include items such as leisure
and recreation, and the family budget for health excluded medical expenses.
Magtubo said that "If we
include such items, and we must in a more accurate survey, then the cost of
living will significantly exceed P1,200 per day."
He
added that "The National
Wages and Productivity Council's cost of living estimate of P917 in 2008 is
hopelessly outdated in the light of this study and in the face of continuing
inflation." PM finds it a
mystery why the NWPC has not updated its estimate for in the last five years.
The group asserts that even if the P85 wage petition filed earlier this
month is granted by the NCR wage board, such will not be enough to bridge the
huge gap between the minimum wage and the cost of living.
PM
however doubts that the NCR wage board will grant the pending wage petition. “Since the NCR wage board was
established in 1989, no basic wage increase ever granted was above P30, whether
the economy was in boom or bust. The wage boards must be abolished for being
inutile. Its wage orders are always delayed, stingy and benefits merely a small
section of workers because it is not across-the-board and riddled with
exemptions, deferments and creditability clauses," declared Magtubo.
The
group is advocating for the establishment of a National Wage Commission. “The National Wage Commission is
different in that its mandate is to fix wages based on the single criterion of
cost of living. And despite the huge gap between the present minimum wage and
the current cost of living, the National Wage Commission can achieve equalizing
the two by a host of mechanisms among which are direct wage increases, tax
exemptions, price discounts at social security subsidies for workers,” Magtubo explained.
Magtubo
also argued that "Since
we should not impose the burden of household chores and child rearing to the
female parent, then the basket of goods should provide for a househelp. That is
not anymore a luxury especially in the light of the insistence of the state
that both parents must work instead of having just a single breadwinner. Even
the Kasambahay Law implicitly recognizes that a househelp is a necessity even
for working class households. "
Cost of Living Estimate
for a family of 6 living in NCR (April 2013)
|
Items
|
Volume/Cost
|
Daily
Cost
|
Monthly
Cost
|
%
share
|
|
Food
& Beverages
|
|
|
16,029.70
|
43.92
|
|
rice
|
2.5kg/day
x P35 (sinandomeng)
|
87.50
|
2,625
|
|
|
ulam & gulay
|
3
servings (P65/pax/day x 6 pax)
|
390
|
11,700
|
|
|
condiments
|
2kg
onion (P65),
1kg
garlic (P109), others
|
7.97
|
239
|
|
|
fruits
|
4kg x
P40 (banana)
|
5.33
|
160
|
|
|
cooking oil
|
2
liters x P95.45
|
6.36
|
190.90
|
|
|
sugar
|
2kg x
P50
|
3.33
|
100
|
|
|
soy sauce
|
1 liter
P32.25
|
1.08
|
32.25
|
|
|
vinegar
|
1 liter
P26.75
|
0.89
|
26.75
|
|
|
fish sauce
|
1 liter
P30.75
|
1.03
|
30.75
|
|
|
coffee
|
2
(100g) x P75.90
|
5.06
|
151.80
|
|
|
milk
|
3
(900g) x P257.75
|
25.78
|
773.25
|
|
|
Utilities
|
|
|
3,400
|
9.32
|
|
electricity
|
200kwh
(P11.17/kwh)
|
74.47
|
2,234
|
|
|
water
|
20cu.m.
(P20.80/cu.m)
|
13.87
|
416
|
|
|
LPG
|
1
cylinder
|
25
|
750
|
|
|
House
rental
|
|
|
6,000
|
16.44
|
|
|
1 month
rent
|
200
|
6,000
|
|
|
Toiletries
|
|
|
1,224.10
|
3.35
|
|
soap
|
6 bars
x P37.75
|
7.55
|
226.50
|
|
|
shampoo
|
2
(200ml ) x P99.80
|
6.65
|
199.60
|
|
|
sanitary napkins
|
3
(packs of 8) x P40.00
|
4
|
120
|
|
|
toothpaste
|
2
(150ml) x P67.50
|
4.5
|
135
|
|
|
laundry soap
|
24 (70g
pack) x P9.50
|
7.60
|
228
|
|
|
deodorant
|
4 x
P78.75
|
10.50
|
315
|
|
|
Education
|
|
|
3,748
|
10.27
|
|
enrollment fees
|
4 pax x
P500 = P2000/schoolyear
|
5.56
|
167
|
|
|
school allowance
|
50 x 3
pax & 25 x 1 pax/day x 22 days x 10 months = P38,500/yr
|
107
|
3,208
|
|
|
theatre tickets
|
1
ticket x P160/grading x 4 periods x 4 pax/schoolyear
|
7.11
|
213
|
|
|
school projects
|
2
subjects x P60
/grading
x 4 periods x 4 pax = P1,920/schoolyear
|
5.33
|
160
|
|
|
Health
|
|
|
198
|
0.54
|
|
ascorbic acid
|
6 (1
tablet ascorbic acid generic) X P1.10
|
6.60
|
198
|
|
|
Communications
|
|
|
1,500
|
4.11
|
|
phone or cellphone
|
at
least P25/day load x 2
|
50
|
1,500
|
|
|
Transpo
expenses
|
|
|
4,400
|
12.05
|
|
fare
to and from work
|
2 pax x
P100/day x 22days
|
146.67
|
4,400
|
|
|
Total
|
|
P1,216.66
|
P36,499.80
|
|
NOTES:
1. Family
is composed of a couple with 4 children. Children are all in public schools (3
HS level and 1 elementary), school supplies, work books expenses, internet use
for research are not yet included
2. Basket
does not include bill for a house-help
3. Utilities
such as electricity and water vary from time to time depending on consumption
so its ++
4. No item
for leisure/recreation
5. Health
budget does not include medical expenses
6. No
budget allotted for savings. NWPC
basket provides 10% of the total
No comments:
Post a Comment