On Tuesday, The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) protested at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to denounce Executive Order (EO) No. 64 for its “unjust and insulting” nature towards public health workers and government employees.
Health workers from various hospitals in Metro Manila were angered by the idea of selflessly serving the nation during challenges posed by the public health and economic crises, while only earning P530 per month.
The executive order implies that a Salary Grade 1 government employee would receive an increase of P530 per month (from P13,000 to P13,530), or P24 per day if divided by 22 working days. The AHW added that the salary increase is way below the Family Living Wage of P1,100 per day or P33,000 per month.
“The EO64 of PBBM is unacceptable and unjust. We have been working tirelessly on the front lines, often risking our own health and safety for the well-being of the patients we served. The P530 monthly increase will not alleviate health workers and other government employees worsening economic situation. It will be eroded by tax and monthly premium contributions such as GSIS, Pag-ibig and Philhealth. Essentially, there is no substantial salary increase in the Marcos Jr. administration,” President of the Philippine Heart Center Employees Association-Alliance of Health Workers, Sally Ejes lamented.
Furthermore, the alliance stressed that the salary increase should be a national minimum of P33,000 per month, based on the actual situation and demands of government employees. The AHW also described the provisions of EO 64 as discriminative. They noted how they should be treated equally as their national counterparts; adding that it should still be based on the local government’s ability to provide, limitations, and percentages set by the the provision.
As a call-out, public health workers demanded the prompt release of their long overdue Performance-Based Bonus for the years 2021 to 2023. According to them, its delay added to the financial strains they faced while working tirelessly, extending shifts and work days for others.
The AHW called for fellow health workers, teachers, and other government employees to continue the fight to receive fair salaries and benefits from the government.
On August 2, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 64, revising the policy on government workers' salaries and benefits.
