Eleazar: Wage hike timely due to pandemic effects, soaring oil prices

Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar

MANILA, Philippines — The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the soaring prices of fuel products and other basic commodities highlighted the urgent need to increase salaries of workers, according to retired police general Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar.

Eleazar, who is running for senator in the May 2022 elections, said it has already been years that workers are urging the national government to increase their daily minimum wage.

“Noon pa humihirit ng dagdag na pasahod ang ating manggagawa subalit kung may nagiging pagtaas man sa kanilang sahod, hindi pa rin ito sapat dahil sumasabay din ang pagtaas ng mga pangunahing bilihin,” said Eleazar.

“Napapanahon na talaga upang itaas ang kanilang sahod at gawing halos kapantay ang sweldo ng mga nasa probinsya at ng mga naririto sa Metro Manila. The government should also come up with measures that will prevent the huge increases in the price of basic commodities,” he added.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has admitted that a P537 minimum wage is not sufficient, however, he also raised concern whether businesses could really afford to increase the salaries of their workers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected a lot of businesses which is also among the reasons why it has been difficult to increase wages of workers.

“Ito ang dapat aralin at isulong sa Senado. Katulong ang mga pribadong sektor, sisiguraduhin kong maitataas ang sahod ng mga manggagawa sa paraang hindi naman malulugi ang mga negosyo. Babalansehin natin ito,” said Eleazar.

Aside from higher salary, Eleazar vowed to push for additional benefits for workers, including those for their health and the education of their children.

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