From the Office of Rep. Crispin Beltran

South Wing Room 602 House of Representatives

Constitution Hills 1126 Quezon City, Philippines

Reference: Rep.Crispin Beltran (+63)9278711080

Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff  931.6615, 09195065269

 

 News Release Thursday January 4, 2007

 

Senators appealed to for passage of wage increase bill; let PGMA thumb down said measure and prove her anti-worker orientation

 

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that now that the Philippine Senate's committee on labor  has begun deliberations on the across-the-board wage increase bill, the fight for the reinstatement of the national minimum wage and the immediate granting of an at least P125 wage increase for all private sector workers will shift to the senate.

 

"We hope that the senate will deliberate quickly and favorably on the wage hike bill. Business groups have always had their say and their way on this issue, it's long overdue that the stand and demand of workers be prioritized and responded to. Filipinos are in serious need of a substantial wage increase because in the last five years, prices of commodities and rates of basic services like water, transportation and electricity have steadily gone up. The way of life of majority of Filipino workers have consistently deteriorated also because of the eroding purchasing power of the peso. The best way to remedy this is pulling wages up. Workers have no other way to cope with rising costs," he said.

 

Beltran said that business groups and sectors opposed to the wage hike bill have not offered any other alternatives to help workers cope with the increasing cost of  living. He said that capitalists and business owners have been able to recoup their losses and maintain a steady profit through the years by jacking their prices and denying their workers law-guaranteed health and employment benefits.

 

"Businessmen can complain all they want that they're not raking as much profits as they used to, but the fact remains that they are still making money and their families are still enjoying comfortable lives. Workers and their families are always fighting for their day-to-day survival and make do with pittance wages," he said.

 

The veteran labor leader turned legislator said that the legislation of a wage increase and it's nationwide, across-the-board implementation must also pave the way for the repeal of the wage rationalization law and the abolition of the regional wage boards.

 

He appealed to the senate to approve the legislated wage increase bill before the 13th congress ends.

 

"Let Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo be the one to veto the bill and once more prove her anti-worker, anti-poor orientation. Inevitably it is up to her to approve or thumb down the wage hike bill. The senate can do a great service to Filipino workers by immediately passing the legislated wage hike bill," he said. #