Teachers’ group demands pay hike as prices continue to soar

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MANILA, Philippines —The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines has called for swift action on proposals to raise the wages of workers and employees as inflation surpasses government forecasts.

“Ilang buwan na tayong pinapaasa ng pamahalaan na bababa na umano ang inflation rate at maiibsan na ang pagsirit ng presyo ng mga bilihin, pero tuloy pa rin itong tumataas. Tumatanggi sila sa pagtataas ng sahod at sinasabing kaunting panahon na lamang ang ating pagtitiis. But obviously there is no respite in sight from this quandary but through substantial pay hike,” ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua said in a statement Tuesday.

(The administration has been promising lower inflation and lower prices for months, but it’s still rising. They won’t raise pay and say we’ll wait a bit longer. However, only a large wage raise can solve this problem. )

Quetua raises concerns over Marcos Jr.’s priorities as President. He called on the President to prioritize the certification of bills on wage hikes and questioned the economic benefits of the President’s frequent foreign trips.

READ: Give workers a wage hike to help them fight inflation, says solon

“The President is set for another overseas trip, purportedly to clinch deals to better the economy, but seven trips after and we have not felt any relief. It is better for him to do his job of certifying the pay hike bills as urgent,” he said.

“Sagad na ang higpit ng aming mga sinturon, hindi na matanggap ng mga kumakalam naming sikmura ang kanilang mga hungkag na pangako at alibi. Ang kailangan namin ay makabuluhang dagdag-sweldo, ngayon na!” he added.

(Our belts are too tight, and our grumbling stomachs can no longer accept their empty promises and alibi. What we need is a significant pay raise, now!)

Philippine inflation further increased to 8.7% in January 2023, exceeding the previous peak of 8.1% in December 2022, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. — Niña Cuasay, INQUIRER.net trainee

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