Proposed P125 wage hike better than nothing – bishop

 VINCENT CABREZA/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON FILE PHOTO

THE P 125 across-the-board proposed wage hike is not enough, but it’s better than nothing.

This was the opinion of a Catholic bishop, who stressed the need for higher salaries for workers given the rising prices of basic commodities.

Manila auxiliary bishop Broderick Pabillo noted that workers’ wages have not been adjusted for quite some time, as he welcomed proposals to hike their pay by P 125 a day.

“We always urge that workers’ salaries be raised, because their salaries don’t increase even if the prices of basic goods go up,” he said.

Pabillo is also the chairperson of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on the Laity.

He noted that although the P 125 proposed across-the-board wage hike is not enough, it’s still better than nothing.

“It seems the proposed wage hike is not enough. But at least P 125 a day, it’s substantial for a lot of people,” the Manila auxiliary bishop said.

Earlier, the Department of Labor and Employment ordered its regional tripartite wages and productivity boards to review of the P 125 across-the-board wage hike proposal.

Pabillo noted that workers’ salaries have not seen an increase in a long time, as he expressed hope that the proposal will be approved soon.