“Manggagawa ang
totoong nagbibigay ng subsidy sa gobyerno at negosyo subalit pinakahuli sa
benepisyo at serbisyo,” stated Partido Manggagawa (PM) on the eve Labor Day,
countering the prevailing narrative that it is the government that provides
subsidy to the poor.
“May
iba’t-ibang klase ng limitado at patronage na ayuda, pero galing din naman sa
manggagawa ang pondo sa mga ito. Kahit ang yaman ng mga korporasyon, after
taxes, ay sa labor din galing. Lahat ay galing sa manggagawa, pero ghosting ang
tugon ni BBM sa amin ngayong Labor Day,” PM Chair Renato Magtubo protested.
Magtubo
explained further that as consumers, millions of workers pay regressive taxes
like excise and VAT multiple times for manufactured goods and services they
purchase. As metered customers of Meralco and other distribution utilities,
they are made to subsidize the power bills of their poorer neighbors. As income
earners, they pay personal income taxes once the exemption level is breached.
And as OFWs, they remit billions of dollars for their families to spend.
Labor groups
are demanding for a P200 wage hike and the enactment of the national minimum
wage bill, but Malacañang and business groups maintain a policy of wage
restraint despite a ₱155 erosion of the minimum wage in NCR.
Partido
Manggagawa under the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition is joining other labor groups
under the National Wage Coalition tomorrow morning, for a WELGA unified march
from Welcome Rotonda and España Boulevard going to Mediola. PM members will
also join the nationwide protests particularly in the cities of Cebu, Bacolod,
and Iloilo.
WELGA stands
for Wage Hike Now Tungo National Living Wage, E-VAT Tanggalin Income Tax
Repasuhin, Lagyan ng Buwis ang Sobrang Yaman at Kita, Gawing Abot Kaya ang
Presyo, and Arestuhin Lahat ng Kurakot.
PM is also
taking an anti-war call, saying it is the US-Israel tandem which should be held
accountable for their war of aggression on Iran and its impact on the global
economy.
Meanwhile, on
the issue of corruption, PM Secretary General Judy Miranda said the fight for
good governance will always be a part of labor’s advocacy, along with topmost
and urgent economic concerns like wages and jobs.
“Ikulong ang
lahat ng korap, Duterte camp man yan o Marcos. Pababain si Sara, pero pababain
din ang presyo ng mga bilihin,” Miranda said. ###
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