 |
|
|
Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Issue No. 39 November 11 - 17, 2001 Quezon City, Philippines |
|
|
|
Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Issue No. 39 November 11 - 17, 2001 Quezon City, Philippines |
|
Monthly Cost of Living Rose by P462 in 10 Months Should Metro Manila workers be glad that a P15 adjustment has been made in their wages last November 5? How do their salaries now fare compared to the prevailing cost of living? Bulatlat.com computes anew how much a person needs to keep his or her family’s head above water (assuming that this can be done). BY
DANILO ARAÑA ARAO
Workers are in for a bleak Christmas as wages remain a pittance compared to the rising cost of living. Latest computations by Bulatlat.com show that for the first 10 months of the year, monthly cost of living for a family of six in Metro Manila has increased by P462. As of October 2001, a Metro Manila-based worker needs at least P515.55 ($9.93) daily to meet his or her family’s food and non-food requirements. This translates to about P15,466.50 ($297.92) a month. When President Gloria Mapacagal-Arroyo assumed power in January, the monthly cost of living for a family of six was pegged at P15,004.50 ($289.02). It may be recalled that since November 2000, the legislated daily wage rate in Metro Manila has been pegged at P250 ($4.82). Assuming a 22-day work month, this means that the minimum monthly gross wage in Metro Manila amounts to P5,500 ($105.94). Based on the decision of the NCR regional wage board in October, there was a P15 adjustment ($0.29) in the emergency cost of living allowance (ECOLA) effective November 5, and another adjustment in the ECOLA of the same amount will be implemented in February next year. Wage hike call Labor groups like the Kilusang Mayo Uno (May 1st Movement) and the Wage Increase Solidarity (WINS) network reiterated their call for a P125 wage hike that is across the board and nationwide. They also stressed that the ECOLA adjustment is hardly a wage increase since this will not be included in the computation of the overtime pay and the 13th and 14th month pay. An increase that they are demanding, therefore, is in the basic pay of workers. Workers in areas outside Metro Manila are in the same bind, as daily cost of living for a family of six as of October 2001 has been pegged at P392.50 or $7.56 (agricultural areas) and P412.96 or $7.95 (non-agricultural areas). The legislated daily wage rates in other regions currently range from P140 (ARMM) to P217 (Southern Tagalog). Bulatlat.com’s computations are based on the latest consumer price index (CPI) released by the National Statistics Office. Bulatlat.com
We want to know what you think of this article.
|
