The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) filed last week an additional P470 to the minimum wage of workers in Metro Manila, citing the increasing prices of commodities as of late.
Currently, the current minimum wage in Metro Manila is P537, as stipulated in Wage Order No. 22 from the Department of Labor and Employment.
"Gusto naming dagdagan ang P537 ng P470," said TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay.
(We want to add P470 to the P537.)
Tanjusay attributed the huge increase to their computations, which revealed that workers should be receiving the said additional amount for their salaries.
"Malaki ang hinihingi namin kasi ang nakikita namin sa aming computations na dapat matanggap ng manggagawa as kasalukuyan," he explained.
(We are asking for a huge increase because we see in our computations that this should be the amount earned by workers now.)
He recognized that asking for such a huge increase is a "challenge," but stressed that it is a necessity if the government and employers really want to help their workers amid increasing prices of goods.
"Malaking challenge talaga ito. Pero 'yun naman pinapakita naman namin sa taongbayan at sa gobyerno, lalong-lalo na sa business owners na ito ang wage rate na dapat matanggap ng manggagawa sa kasalukuyan kung gusto natin silang matulungan, kung gusto natin silang mabigyan ng tamang sahod para sa kaagapay dito sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin," he said.
(This is a huge challenge. But we just want to show people and the government, especially business owners, that this is the wage rate that should be earned by workers now if we really want to help them if we really want to give them the right wages alongside the increasing prices of goods.)
According to Tanjusay, minimum wage earners will not be the only ones to benefit from the increase, but also informal workers.
"Makikinabang din dito 'yung mga informal workers kasi ito yung magiging standard ng sasahurin ng mga nasa informal sector," he said.
(It will also benefit informal workers because this will be the standard salary for those in the informal sector.)
The TUCP spokesperson said that he hopes employers would understand their call for higher wages but said that those who cannot handle the wage increase could file a petition to the wage board.
"Sana maunawaan naman nila, minsan lang naman 'to ulit sa loob ng tatlong taon, maglalamabing kami sa kanila at sana maintinidihan nila," he said.
(We hope they would understand. This does not always happen in three years, we will appeal to them and we hope they understand.)
Meanwhile, Tanjusay said they are currently on their way to Cebu to also file to the wage board there a salary increase.
"Kasalukuyan, fina-finalize namin 'yung halaga kung magkano 'yung final amount, pero most likely nasa P400 to P500 'yung amount na tinitignan namin," he said.
(Currently, we are finalizing the amount. But most likely, we are looking at P400 to P500.)
