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| Photo from Manila Bulletin |
In the ongoing hearing today regarding the legislated wage
hike in the Lower House of Congress, members of the Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition
urged lawmakers to prioritize the demands of workers for a P150 or higher wage
increase, instead of yielding to the threats of employers that it will destroy
the economy.
The group reminded lawmakers of the provision in the
Constitution stating the "primacy of labor over capital" as a guiding
principle in deciding on this contentious issue. They pointed out that for over
three decades, employers have persistently opposed it, while the minimum wage
of workers remained below the poverty line.
The group stated this position while staging a protest in
front of the Batasan complex, along with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines
(TUCP), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Sentro ng
Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at
Samahang Manggagawa (KAPATIRAN), Marikina Workers Alliance, National Federation
of Labor (NFL), Partido Manggagawa (PM), TESEF, and Unified Filipino Service
Workers (UFSW).
But before the protest could even start, the police
dispersed them away from the Batasan gate and blocked their return, led by
Precinct 6 commander, Col. Castillo. The labor groups condemned the actions of
the police, stating that this was the second time they had done so, the first
being against the youth just two weeks prior.
They called on the leadership of the PNP and Mayor Joy
Belmonte to stop the police abuse at the Batasan, as it shows a lack of respect
for freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
The group asserted further that their petition for wage
increase is not anti-MSME or anti-business because any additional income in the
pockets of workers is returned to the economy through consumption in small
businesses, compared to the huge profits of businesses that only go towards
extravagant expenses of capital owners.
NAGKAISA! also mentioned that the economy of workers relies
solely on wages, so while most survive in the formal sector and self-reliance
in the informal economy, a wage increase has a more positive impact on the
entire economy compared to if the majority of workers remain impoverished.
They noted that the highest minimum wage of P610 here in NCR
has a real value lower than the national poverty line of P13,797 in 2023.
Aside from the wage increase in the private sector,
NAGKAISA! supports a separate proposal for a wage hike for public sector
employees.
NAGKAISA! also seeks to reform the wage-setting system in
the country through legislation because for the past 35 years under RA6727 and
regional wage boards, the majority of workers in the country have remained
poor, which goes against the Constitution's mandate for the right to a living
wage and a rising standard of living for their families.
February 28, 2024
NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition
