Labor groups to raise joblessness, cheap wages when they meet Aquino Tuesday

MANILA, Philippines — After labor leaders air their concerns on a host of workers’ issues, President Aquino will outline the non-wage benefits for the country’s workforce in Tuesday’s breakfast meeting, according to Malacañang.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said on Tuesday, the dialogue would serve as a venue for labor organizations to raise their concerns and hear directly from the President, but ruled out any announcement of wage increase.

Lacierda said the petition for wage increase had been filed with the Department of Labor and Employment and would be reviewed by the regional wage boards on May 17.

“There’s a dialogue and there’s an opportunity for the labor sector to discuss things with the President,’’ he said in a Malacañang briefing. “The President will meet with the members of the labor sector and he will outline what will be given.’’

He said the public should wait for the President’s announcement on the non-wage benefits.

Officials of the moderate Trade Union Congress of the Philippines vowed to raise “jobless growth’’ as well as employment and job creation, contractualization, social protection, right to self-organization and collective bargaining, wage increase, tripartism and social dialogue, and labor dispute settlement.

The TUCP said the 6.6-percent economic growth in 2012, the highest in Southeast Asia, has not translated into opportunities for employment.

In January 2013, there were 2.89 million unemployed Filipinos and 7.934 million underemployed Filipinos, it said.

On top of this, poverty incidence has remained unchanged in the past six years, proof that benefits of economic growth have not trickled down to the poor.

In 2012, poverty incidence stood at 27.9 percent, “practically unchanged’’ from 28.6 percent in 2009, and 28.8 percent in 2006, the National Statistical Coordination Board said.

“This dialogue is just ceremonial. All for show just like previous labor day dialogues sponsored by Malacañang,” Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano said in a statement. “Workers ought to assert the ideals and militant tradition of Labor Day rather than listen to Aquino’s empty promises.”

Of the non-wage benefits, Mariano said:  “While millions of Filipino workers and their families are bearing the brunt of increasing cost of living brought about by endless price increase and hike in utilities and services, the Aquino government only offered trinkets and crumbs through non-wage benefits.’’

A worker earns an average of P277.81 every day, according to Mariano.

Citing a research by the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research, he said a family would spend an average of P10,850 monthly for food and non-food requirements, such as rent electricity, water, transportation, toiletries and mobile phone load.

“The government can keep workers’ wages down while protecting employers and their profit margins. Where is justice under this administration?’’ he said.

To be relevant, the government should institute policy reforms that would reverse “anti-worker’’ policies including wage-freeze, labor contractualization, labor migration, price hikes among others,’’ Mariano said.

“Dole-outs are also unacceptable,’’ he said.  Anakpawis is joining Labor Day protests led by Kilusang Mayo Uno Wednesday.

Lacierda declined comment on a statement by the Partido ng Manggagawa, which called the current pay as “starvation wages’’ after its own study showed that the cost of living for a family of six in Metro Manila has reached P1,217 a day, way above the P456 minimum wage.

“What we are committed to do is improving the lot of the—our laborers and we continue to do that. As to what the figures are, we will leave it with our—with the Department of the Labor,’’ he said.

Malacañang also thumbed down Sen. Ralph Recto’s proposed tax exemption for all 13th month bonuses (even those exceeding P30,000) and overtime pay.

“Based on the computation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, if that is allowed, you will have foregone revenue of P60 billion. That’s quite big,’’ Lacierda said. He added that this would also require the amendment of the Tax Reform Act of 1997, which grants exemption to bonuses up to P30,000.