By Jun Enriquez
ILIGAN CITY - The Partido Manggagawa (PM), Iligan chapter enjoined the 138th International Labor day celebration held in Iligan City organized by the Federation of Democratic Labor Organization (FDLO). Jane Bernardo, PM coordinator for Mindanao, delivered a labor day message on vital labor issues pertaining to inflation, wages increase, workers' protection and benefits, including the women in labor. Bernardo emphasized the local and national theme. The national theme states,"Bagong Pilipinas; Manggagawang Pilipino Kabalikat at Kasama sa Pag-asesnso," for the local Theme, "Job security, Decent wages, and Affordable prices, Not Political and economic charter Change."
Bernardo said that the themes will be capsulized in one slogan of the PM, states "SAHOD ITAAS CHACHA IATRAS," makes to develop the national economy. In her analysis, she explained that the Inflation of prices goes up, the current situation on minimum wage is Php 428 per day. The actual nominal peso value is Php 327 due to inflation or a negative difference of Php 101. That's why, she said that there must be a wage increase of Php 150 to compensate the loss of peso value due to the increases of prices. She reiterated that there should be a legislated wage increase in order for the workers to survive within the poverty situation. Bernardo said that the proposed wage increase is still on negotiation and dialogue in congress for two years now through the tripartite conferences in national level.
Bernardo said that there is good news because the Senate approved the Php 100 across the board wage increase. However, in the lower house, there is a counter measure still on progress. She hopes that the proposed Php 150 wage increase will be supported by congress to compensate the economic loss of Filipino workers to survive poverty situation.
Bernardo is calling the attention of President Marcos to support and certify the wage increase bill in congress as urgent. (Videographer and Photo by: Jenifer Bagonbon; Jun Enriquez, is the President of the Manggagawang Media ng Mindanaw-MMM).
