PGMA’s exploitation and deception of workers will cause upheaval - KMU

”We’re fed up.” 

This was the statement of KMU Chairperson Elmer ‘Ka Bong’ Labog to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this International Labor’s Day for her continued rejection of the workers’ pressing demand for a meaningful wage hike. KMU and its allied organizations staged huge protests in different parts of the country today.

“Labor Day will be commemorated with greatest militance by workers who suffer in their greatest poverty these days. 

“Arroyo should better be serious in granting meaningful wage hikes. If she thinks she can pacify the workers by giving bogus increases through regional wage boards and meager benefits, then we’ll prove her wrong. 

“We are giving Gloria a stern warning. The crisis that besets the workers and the people today will result to continued unrests and an upheaval that will end her rule. The food riots we predicted last March are still a possibility since the Arroyo government does not address seriously the rice and food crisis, and the declining livelihood of the people.” Labog stressed. 

Most deprived

”The demand for P125 wage hike gains more justification amidst the present skyrocketing of costs of almost all goods.” 

This year, the price of rice increased by 44%, fish by 14.3%, pork by 23%, chicken and vegetables by 20%, and cooking oil by 56% since April 2007 according to the Department of Trade and Industry itself.

Since Arroyo assumed office in 2001, the national average of living wage was P445.53 according to the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), while national average of minimum wage was P222.42. If the P125 was granted then, wages would still be short by P98.11 for a family’s living. 

After seven years of Arroyo’s cling to power, average living wage now is P770. Average minimum wage, however, is pegged at only P246.56. 

Most exploited

Labog also disproved businessmen’s claims that they cannot grant the P125 wage increase because it will eat out their earnings, which will translate to further inflation. 

“It is impossible for the capitalists not to have the capacity to give the P125 wage hike. From 1999 to 2006, labor productivity has increased nominally by 56.3%, or 13.1% in real terms,” Labog said, quoting IBON think tank’s study. 

“Gloria always brag about the Philippines’ rising GDP. This means that total production and earnings in the country is increasing, but to whom did all of these go to?”

Most betrayed

Labog slammed one by one Arroyo’s phony gifts to the workers this May One.  

For the Livelihood Assistance, which the Malacanang has not yet detailed, Labog said “They should normally grant these. Most wage adjustments given by wage boards, moreover, are only COLA adjustments.” 

For the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s coverage for an additional 2,000 workers in the informal sector, “They’ll only spend a measly amount for this. It also encourages growth of the informal sector, which is actually happening due to prevalent contractualization and lay-off of workers.” 

For the Productivity E-Learning, “Who will benefit from this? How can a worker use a computer and invest his earnings if his wages cannot catch up with his expenses?” 

And for the job fair that will recruit for 50,000 jobs, “This is only a small percentage of the more than 4 million unemployed and the more than 5 million underemployed in the country. And what kind of jobs do the people again expect from this – short-term, under skilled, and low wage jobs? 

Bogus wage hikes

Regarding the 10% wage increase for government employees, “Isn’t this given already under the SSL? And this is still a far-cry from government employees’ demand for a monthly P3,000 across-the-board wage hike.” 

Labog again slammed the move to increase wages through the regional wage boards. 

”Wage boards should be abolished. It has been proven historically that these are just deceitful instruments to give meager adjustments, to divide workers in the campaign for an across-the-board hike, and to evade a legislated,” Labog said.  

“The Western Visayas regional wage board, for example, already revealed that 80% of companies there will be exempted if ever they decide to increase wages. Even NWPC executive director Ciriaco Lagunsad III have said a number of times that a large percentage of companies and factories throughout the country do not comply with wage orders from the wage boards, and yet go unpunished.” 

Support for P125

KMU now opens doors to Senator Ramon Revilla’s filed bill that favors a P125 across-the-board wage hike, but will be distributed in a three-year span. KMU is now studying the bill. 

In the Lower House, KMU called for the urgent passage of HB 1722 by Anakpawis Congressman Crispin Beltran. Two years ago, a similar bill that will grant a compounded P125 hike reached the 3rd reading of the Congress, but was stalled by Cong. Crispin ’Boying’ Remulla for technical matters. 

End the regime

”Gloria has the guts of declining workers’ demands, while she enjoys the huge amounts she has corrupted from us and the people.” The 130 million dollar supposed kickback from the NBN deal is already equal to the wages of 72,337 minimum wage earners for one year, or 62,346 workers without the COLA. 

KMU called on the people, “People power is still the answer. The people have to trust in their collective action and fight for the end of the regime that has deprived them greatly, and work for a society that will uphold genuine national freedom and democracy.###_______