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

President Arroyo Approves 10% increase for government workers

President Arroyo signed Thursday an executive order granting a 10-percent salary increase for government workers effective July.

Mrs. Arroyo made the announcement after attending a wage board meeting in San Fernando, Pampanga. Earlier, the President attended another wage board meeting in Quezon City.

The President has ordered Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya to thresh out the details of the increase.

The long-planned 10-percent increase in the basic pay is part of the multiyear schedule for the staggered increase in public-sector wages, a policy that was forged in 2006.

A 10-percent increase in the basic pay of 898,849 national government employees will cost P9.216 billion for six months, and P2.844 billion for an estimated 277,905 soldiers, policemen, firemen, jail guards and Coast Guard personnel for the same period. The pay increase is the third in 30 months in the public sector.