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| Phioto from Business World |
The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) slammed the
holiday economics argument as President Bongbong Marcos issued a proclamation
declaring today as a special non-working holiday. “Holiday economics makes no
sense to workers. How can workers go on a holiday for P570 per day? The minimum
wage is not even enough for basic necessities and is less than half the living
wage of P 1,300 per day,” argued Judy Ann Miranda, secretary-general of PM.
She added “Government should act on the P100 wage
hike demand before it goes on promoting holiday economics. According to the
government’s own Ambisyon Natin 2040, the family household income should be
P120,000 per month so that it can set aside P10,000 for holiday expenses—divided
into P4,000 for ‘relax with family and friends’ and P6,000 for ‘occasional
trips around the country.’ Given the government's inaction on the demand for a
salary increase, it will take a century before the current P14,820 monthly
minimum wage reaches P120,000, if at all.”
“In fact, even the few Filipinos who can afford to
go on a holiday, cannot do so because of the last-minute announcement
yesterday. Holidays are planned in advance. It seems that because BBM—who has
been called out as President Ferdinand Magellan Jr. on American TV—travels and takes
a vacation on a whim, he thinks others have the same privilege,” Miranda
interjected.
PM is calling on Filipinos to join the activities
today and tomorrow to commemorate the ouster of the Marcos dictatorship. Today,
the Iloilo chapter of PM is joining a protest of workers, urban poor and
students in Iloilo City. Tomorrow afternoon, martial law victims will assemble
at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City.
“It is adding insult to injury when the government
promotes holiday economics to workers. Workers suffer a salary cut when a
non-working holiday is moved to a weekday since the no work, no pay rule
applies,” Miranda explained.
According to PM’s calculations based on the
consumer price index data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, P88 has been
eroded from the P570 minimum wage in Metro Manila. Inflation outside Metro
Manila is even higher. The group’s own estimate is that P1,300 is needed so
that a family of five can provide for its daily cost of living.
“Instead of a hollow holiday economics policy, we ask the government for an Apat na Dapat policy package. First, wage hikes. Second, abolition of regressive taxes like VAT and application of progressive taxation such as a wealth tax on oligarchs and billionaires. Third, social security subsidies for informal workers. Fourth, discounts on basic commodities. These will protect and improve the wages and incomes of workers in the formal and informal economy,” Miranda elaborated.
Partido Manggagawa
February 24, 2023
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