Despite
the scorching heat, the Partido Manggagawa (PM) labeled as “coldest Labor Day”
this year's May Day celebration due to the government's icy reception to
labor’s demand for a wage hike.
PM is
part of the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, which marched along España Boulevard in
Manila alongside the National Wage Coalition, advocating for “Dagdag Sahod
Isabatas, P150 Pataas” or the enactment of the proposed across-the-board wage
hike of not less than P150.
Pending
before the Lower House are the proposed P150 wage hike bill authored by TUCP
Partylist Rep. and Deputy Speaker Raymond Mendoza, and the P750 bill filed by
Makabayan block. Also filed was the P33,000/month entry level wage for public
sector workers.
Despite
the urgency of these demands, the Palace's response to workers' clamor for
substantial wage hike has been cold, limited to repetitive job fairs, Kadiwa
rollout, and disbursement of aid like TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating
Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) programs.
Moreover,
there has been a notable absence of dialogue between labor groups and the
President to address workers' concerns.
"President
Marcos has navigated nearly the entire globe, met with business, trade
representatives and military attachés of allied nations for trade and war
preparations, yet he has not engaged with worker representatives to discuss
labor concerns two years in office," remarked PM Chairman Renato Magtubo.
However,
Magtubo also noted that despite the lack of dialogue, essential actions could
still be undertaken, such as certifying proposed wage increase bills currently
pending in the Lower House.
Magtubo
cautioned that the continuing absence and inaction on the part of the Executive
will only worsen the plight of workers in the coming months due to the
compounded effects of the ongoing climate crisis and the escalating prices of
essential goods and services like food, electricity and water, exacerbated by
flawed privatization and liberalization policies.
PRESS RELEASE
01 May 2024
No comments:
Post a Comment