P20 Salary increase for Metro Manila workers

Most labor organizations opposed the P20 wage hike announced by President Arroyo Thursday, calling it an "insult" in light of increases in prices of rice, other food items, and transport.

"A P20 wage hike will not satisfy anybody," said Dr. Rene Ofreneo, former dean of the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Labor leaders interviewed by abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak deplored the low wage increase that is expected to be formally granted by the National Capital Region Wage Board on Friday.

"We welcome any addition to workers’ wages, but we believe P20 is not enough for the multi-layered increase in prices of basic commodities," Joshua Mata, secretary-general of the Alliance of Progressive Labor, said. "P20 is loose change, alms."

A P20 pay hike would mean a daily minimum wage of P382 in Metro Manila. Mata said this is not even half of the P850 "daily living wage" for a family of six in Metro Manila.
-via abs-cbn news