Gov’t workers press wage hike demand

As the Duterte administration nears its three-year mark, a coalition of government employees pilloried the President for being “deaf” to their demand for decent wages and failing to use his vast political capital to uplift the condition of public sector workers.

“While the military and uniformed personnel [have] enjoyed maximum salary increases since January 2018, civilian personnel are still struggling for a substantial [wage hike],” said Santiago Dasmariñas Jr., president of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage), the umbrella group of government unions.

At a press briefing in Quezon City on Thursday, Dasmariñas said that their most immediate demand—a P16,000 national minimum wage—had fallen by the wayside.

“A Salary Grade 1 employee only receives P11,068 monthly,” he said, adding that in some municipalities, the monthly pay could go as low as P7,194.

Leaders of Courage also assailed President Duterte’s alleged failure to end contractualization in the public sector, which employs an estimated 800,000 contractual workers.

The group said they would hold a rally to protest the President’s “neglect” at the Budget department in Manila on June 28.