May Day 2024 is “Coldest Labor Day” – Partido Manggagawa

 

Despite the scorching heat, the Partido Manggagawa (PM) labeled as “coldest Labor Day” this year's May Day celebration due to the government's icy reception to labor’s demand for a wage hike.

 

PM is part of the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, which marched along España Boulevard in Manila alongside the National Wage Coalition, advocating for “Dagdag Sahod Isabatas, P150 Pataas” or the enactment of the proposed across-the-board wage hike of not less than P150.

 

Pending before the Lower House are the proposed P150 wage hike bill authored by TUCP Partylist Rep. and Deputy Speaker Raymond Mendoza, and the P750 bill filed by Makabayan block. Also filed was the P33,000/month entry level wage for public sector workers.

 

Despite the urgency of these demands, the Palace's response to workers' clamor for substantial wage hike has been cold, limited to repetitive job fairs, Kadiwa rollout, and disbursement of aid like TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) programs.

 

Moreover, there has been a notable absence of dialogue between labor groups and the President to address workers' concerns.

 

"President Marcos has navigated nearly the entire globe, met with business, trade representatives and military attachés of allied nations for trade and war preparations, yet he has not engaged with worker representatives to discuss labor concerns two years in office," remarked PM Chairman Renato Magtubo.

 

However, Magtubo also noted that despite the lack of dialogue, essential actions could still be undertaken, such as certifying proposed wage increase bills currently pending in the Lower House.

 

Magtubo cautioned that the continuing absence and inaction on the part of the Executive will only worsen the plight of workers in the coming months due to the compounded effects of the ongoing climate crisis and the escalating prices of essential goods and services like food, electricity and water, exacerbated by flawed privatization and liberalization policies.

PRESS RELEASE

01 May 2024

KOALISYON LABAN SA CHACHA CALLS FOR WAGE HIKE, SCRAP CHACHA TALKS ON PRE-LABOR DAY

Members of Koalisyon Laban sa ChaCha convened today at Quiapo Church to observe Labor Day and emphasize the urgent need of workers for wage increases, vehemently opposing Charter Change.

The pre-Labor Day mass was presided over by Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, head of Caritas Philippines, and also one of the convenors of the Koalisyon. Numerous leaders and members of labor groups and people's organizations were present.

“In the spirit of St. Joseph, the patron saint of workers, we acknowledge the hard work of our workers to provide for their families and to uplift our economy. We offer special prayers and blessings to them as they continue to fight for dignity and rights,” Bagaforo said.

Coalition members, composed of various religious groups and people’s organizations, underscored the importance of enacting and enabling laws that guarantee living wages, labor rights and protections, and other safeguards in the worsening economic and climate conditions.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, also a convenor, called for the immediate passage of Senate Bill No. 2534 or the "P100 Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act of 2023”, in which she guaranteed the inclusion of not just regular workers, but also individuals employed under contractual agreements, sub-contractual agreements, or manpower agencies earning the minimum wage.

“Umento sa sahod ang isinisigaw ng ating mga manggagawa. Iyan ang tunay nilang kailangan. Mariin tayong nananawagan na mas pagtuunan ng oras at panahon ang pagpasa ng mga batas na makakapagbigay ng kagyat na ginhawa sa kanila, hindi ang ChaCha.,” Hontiveros said.

Likewise, Judy Miranda, Secretary General of Partido Manggagawa also emphasized the urgency of legislating daily wage increments, citing the Senate's approval of the said bill last February.

“Sa 'Sahod Itaas, ChaCha Iatras', mariing nakikibaka ang mga manggagawa laban sa patuloy na pagtaas ng mga bilihin at mababang pasahod. Hiling ng mga manggagawa na maisabatas ang dagdag sahod kada araw, na kung saan ang P100  na panukala ay inaprubahan na ng Senado,”

Miranda also highlighted the four key issues crucial to the labor sector, dubbed as the "Apat Na Dapat" (Four Musts): lowering daily expenses, raising wages, creating jobs, and addressing poverty. She stressed that these priorities reflect workers' need for concrete governmental actions, and not the proposed constitutional amendments.

“Ang pagbalewala ng pamahalaan sa pangangailangan ng mga ordinaryong manggagawa habang itinutulak ang walang kabuluhang Charter Change ay sumisira sa prinsipyo ng "primacy of labor over capital" ng Konstitusyon,” Miranda said.

NEWS RELEASE
30 April 2024

Real wage vs nominal wage in April 2024

 As of April 2024

Wage clustering is better than regionalization but one national minimum wage is best

 

According to Partido Manggagawa (PM), the proposal of Representative Joel R. Chua (3rd District of Manila) to replace the current wage regionalization scheme with a wage clustering system is welcome in the sense that it founded on a recognition of the failures of the existing wage fixing system and thus opens a window for a discussion of a better mechanism. “Wage clustering is better than regionalization but one national minimum wage is best,” Rene Magtubo, PM national chair, explained.

 

He added that “We agree, as Rep. Chua asserts, that wage regionalization has led a huge gap between wages of regions that are not substantiated by differences in cost of living, and also has led to complexity in implementation as the DOLE has to monitor almost 50 minimum wages across the country.”

 

For this reason, PM is pushing for a national minimum wage as a floor. Differences between actual wages should be based on seniority, skills and productivity, according to the group.

 

“Also, while we insist that a replacement to the wage regionalization mechanism is also overdue, let us not lose sight of the immediate demand for a P150 across-the-board legislated wage recovery,” Magtubo emphasized.

 

PM is advocating for an “Apat na Dapat” in regard to the wage issue at the moment:

 

1. Php 150 across the board wage increase to recover wage loss due to inflation (immediate);

 

2. Non-wage benefits to enhance take home pay (for example: suspension of Philhealth contributions, reduction in withholding taxes for fixed income earners, social security subsidies, etc.);

 

3. Review and amend RA 6727 with the end in view of having uniform wage rates and satisfying the constitutional mandate of granting workers a living wage;

 

4. Enhance wage and benefits setting through collective bargaining negotiations by implementing the recommendations of the International Labour Organization’s High-Level Tripartite Mission so that workers can exercise freedom of association without harassment and intimidations, and unwarranted regulations. 

 

MEDIA ADVISORY: Anti-mining rally at Batasan tomorrow

ALYANSA TIGIL MINA (ATM)

invites you to a

 

CREATIVE ACTION

 

Pagkaswapang ng Minahan, Wakasan!

Pagkamkam ng Kapangyarihan, Pigilan!

Unahin Tao at Kalikasan, ChaCha Ibasura!

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

9:00 AM – Assembly at Kasayahan St. cor Batasan Road

9:30 AM – March to South Gate of Batasang Pambansa

 

Important Note: The Program is targeted to be at South Gate of Batasang Pambansa. But, in case of dispersal, the contingent will proceed to the North Gate and hold the program there.

Various groups led by Alyansa Tigil Mina will march to the Batasang Pambansa to demand a stop to destructive mining operations and a rejection of proposals to change the 1987 Constitution. 

Specifically, the groups will denounce the machinations of House Speaker Martin Romualdez to amend the charter and serve his vested interests as they charge him of amassing wealth through his and his family’s mining companies.

 

Media coverage is requested.

 

Contact person:

Andrew Palangdao – +63 920 9845702