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Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Vol. IV, No. 31 September 5-11, 2004 Quezon City, Philippines |
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Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Vol. IV, No. 31 September 5-11, 2004 Quezon City, Philippines |
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LABOR WATCH KMU-Cordillera
Opposes Unskilled Workers’ Wage Reduction BY
LEONIDA E. TUNDAGUI BAGUIO
CITY – The Employers Confederation of the Philippines’ (ECOP) plan to
peg unskilled workers’ daily minimum wage at P100 was strongly opposed
last week by the local chapter of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU, May First
Movement). According
to KMU-Cordillera, “They really show no mercy. With the miserable
condition of the workers and low wages, these capitalists still want to
reduce to around 35 percent the entry wage of unskilled workers.” KMU-Cordillera
spokesperson James Tulipa said ECOP’s proposal would deny decent living
to thousands of unskilled workers and their families. Tulipa cited
Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) statistics that 31.5 percent of
the total labor force, or around 11.5 million workers, are considered
unskilled. In
an earlier report, ECOP President Rene Soriano said that new entrants to
employment, including fresh graduates and unskilled workers, should be
given wages lower than the prescribed minimum. ECOP Press Relations
Officer Robert Ella added that his group will propose an adjustment to the
minimum wage based on workers’ skills but he did not yet give exact
figures. KMU
national chairman Elmer Labog said that such statements only show how
“heartless ECOP is when it comes to the workers who produce the
country’s wealth. Despite the harsh working conditions and the
nailed-to-the-ground wages, workers work hard to increase their
productivity for fear of losing their jobs due to the high rate of
unemployment in the country.” Signature
drive Meanwhile,
KMU-Cordillera is participating in the collection of at least 1.25 million
signatures of workers to support the pending bill in Congress seeking the
approval of a P125 across-the-board, nationwide wage increase. The bill was authored by Reps. Sergio Apostol (Leyte), Oscar Rodriguez (Pampanga), Prospero Pichay (Surigao del Sur), Orlando Fua and party-list representatives. A counterpart bill in the Senate, Senate Bill No. 1759, was also filed by Sen. Juan Flavier. Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat We want to know what you think of this article.
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