After Senate workers’ steep allowance hike, group asks: What about other workers?

Alliance of Concerned Teachers photo

MANILA, Philippines — While lauding the P50,000 inflationary allowance increase for Senate employees, a progressive teacher’s group on Tuesday said educators and other workers should also receive a similar monetary relief.

Alliance of Concerned Teachers chairperson Vladimer Quetua said both chambers of Congress should craft laws to give living wages, particularly to government workers and teachers.

“The Senate and the Lower House of Congress should immediately act on and pass the numerous bills that seek to increase the wages and improve the benefits of all workers,” Quetua said in a statement.

Quetua made the call as Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri announced Monday that the allowance of the employees of the chamber will increase from ₱12,200 to ₱50,000.

READ: Zubiri announces raise of Senate employees inflationary aid to P50,000

Also, Quetua said the minimum salary in government should be set at ₱33,000 monthly, while the salaries of teachers should be upgraded to salary grade 15 or at around ₱35,000.

To fast track this, Quetua said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, should sign an executive order to grant higher pay and benefits to the workers.

He pointed out that such assistance is important in light of the soaring prices of goods due to inflation.

“If this is not addressed accordingly and immediately, not only will it affect the productivity of our workforce but it will prod them to do the same as the millions of workers around the world who stage strikes and gigantic protests in the face of the worsening global economic recession,” he pointed out.—Denver Godezano, INQUIRER.net trainee