Labor group supports 14th month pay proposal

Sen. Vicente Sotto III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) on Monday welcomed Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s  Senate Bill 1645 which mandates 14th-month pay for all government and non-government employees.

KMU, in a statement, said the bill “will give some relief to workers suffering from extreme hunger and poverty worsened by the soaring prices of basic goods and services.”

The group also said the proposal shows that “the P10 wage adjustment approved by the Metro Manila wage board will do little [to improve] the lives of workers.”

Sotto earlier said he filed the bill because the “recent P10 increase in the minimum wage is too small” and that the 13th month pay was not enough.

“We need extra earnings in the middle of the year to help in school and medical expenses,” the senator said.

KMU said Congress should not only approve SB 1645 but also House Bill 253 which will grant a P125 across-the-board nationwide wage hike.

The group said a substantial wage increase will not affect businesses since “it is not wages that make doing business difficult for small businessmen, but high power and water rates, [trade liberalization, smuggling, taxes] and kickbacks by government officials.”

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