ALU-TUCP to appeal P20 wage hike for NCR workers as too small

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) on Wednesday said it will appeal the recent decision of the Department of Labor and Employment to grant minimum wage workers in Metro Manila a pay hike of P20.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III had said that the wage increase is expected to reflect on paychecks by October.

"Well, automatically, i-a-apila namin 'yung decision kung totoo nga na maglalabas nga 'yung wage board ng P20 wage increase, adjustment, dito sa Metro Manila," ALU-TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said in an interview on Balitanghali,

Tanjusay said an increase of P20 would not be enough to help minimum wage workers.

"Well, unang-una po, napaka-delikado na P20 po 'yung sasabihin ng wage board sa ating mga kababayan na manggagawa," he said.

He added, "Sa panahon kasi ngayon ay ang P20, walang mararating."

Tanjusay also said that the increase for the NCR fell short of their expectations compared to other regions.

"Doon po sa Region XI ay nag-adjust na po ng wage rate ng around P50. Sa Region VI is around 40-plus pesos, at hindi po fair kung ang i-adjust dito sa Metro Manila," Tanjusay said.

"Well, ang hina-haggle po namin ay na sa P70 sa mga members ng wage force," he added.

Tanjusay also expressed doubt over warnings cited by employers that a wage hike too big would prompt some businesses to let employees go.

"'Yan palagi 'yung sinasabi ng mga negosyante at mga employers sa atin at 'yan ay pananakot. Pero wala naman silang empirical data na nagsasabi na magsasara at malulugi ang mga kumpanya," he said. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News