Group files P85-wage hike bid for MM workers

MANILA, Philippines - A labor group on Wednesday asked the wage board in the National Capital Region for a P85-wage increase to the current P456 mininum wage salary rate in Metro Manila.

In filing a petition, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines also urged both employers and government to share the gains of the economy with the workers.

If granted, the daily minimum salary rate would become P541, the TUCP said.

As of June 2012, a family of six needs at least P1,022 a day to live decently.

TUCP also announced plans to file wage increase petitions in Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro cities next week.

"Recently, Fitch Ratings upgraded our economy to investment-grade--BB+ from BB- -- a vote of confidence in the Philippine economy. The international finance community recognizes our outstanding economic fundamentals including faborable interest rates, sound banking system, sustainable fiscal position and good tax revenues, and strong external position, "TUCP partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza said.

"It is our obligation to help our workers get what is legally and morally due them...we therefore call on the wage board to consider that the times are good and the workers deserve to receive their just share of this vastly improved and improving economy," he added.

The national government estimates there are over eight million workers in Metro Manila working in different sectors with around a million are receiving minimum wage rate.

Last year, the seven-man tripartite wage and productivity board issued a wage order, approving a P20 and P10 in June and in November amid TUCP’s P90 wage increase petition.

The wage board also integrated into the basic pay the P22 cost of living allowance approved in 2011.

In TUCP's four-page petition, it said the workers in metropolis have not been given a single peso real wage increase since 1989.

As of February 2013, the purchasing power of the latest legislated P456 daily minimum wage was only P362.77, eroded by 20.45 percent, the petition added.

The TUCP also argued that between March 2012 and February 2013, the consumer price index in NCR the region rose from 123.1 to 125.7 which requires a P9.63 additional increase in minimum wages.

The prices of goods and services are expected to rise by six percent which would require an additional P27.36 adjustment considering the coming hikes tuition, transport fares including the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit, and residential electric power rates.