Press Statement
Reference: Isabelo T. Rosales
Sector Leader, MKP
Contact # 0920-909-3998
Rounald A. Sitoy
Spokesperon, MAKABAYAN-Cebu
Contact # 0929-735-5966
Hike Wage NoW – DON’T PASS ON TO WAGE BOARD
GMA NOT SERIOUS
Manggagawa para sa Kalayaan ng Bayan (MAKABAYAN) today scored President Arroyo’s attempt to use the much-needed wage hike to prop up her flagging popularity ratings.
Gut issues like wage need not be embellished by political posturing, to do anything less would cast doubt on the President’s sincerity to give temporary relief to the toiling masses.
MAKABAYAN pointed out that the long queues for cheaper rice cannot continue indefinitely, rather, what is needed is a decisive president capable of sending a message to employers to moderate their greed and provide reasonable across the board wage increase by way of executive order pending legislation.
“Wage hike is needed now not tomorrow given the astronomical rise in commodity prices in the past weeks.
MAKABAYAN added that upping the workers’ capacity to buy can only bode well for the country, economically contrary to the belief of other groups like the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP).
Wage increase must be national and across the board – this is not only for the benefits of workers but this is one way of leveling the playing field among the small and the big business, because the small business were usually the most affected increase in minimum wage order while big business were mostly not covered if not across the board.
Reasonable across the board wage increase will spur the market on, as more workers will have the capacity to purchase goods and services.
Aside from national across the board wage increase, unemployment subsidy is necessary as a precautionary measure to address a possible increase in the number of unemployed due to the current crisis.
MAKABAYAN also add its voice to other sector demands for emergency relief and long term solution to the present crisis.
MAKABAYAN will be joining other labor groups come May 1 in calling for food security as well as job security. ##
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