Group wants P21K minimum monthly wage for state workers

The Confederation for Unity, Recognition, and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) called on the government to raise the minimum monthly salary for state workers amid the rising fuel, and commodity prices.

In a statement, COURAGE called for a P21,000 minimum wage for all government workers across the country.

The group argued that the lowest salary grade, salary grade 1, under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL5) is P12,517 a month, a far cry from the P42,000 monthly income estimated by former National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto Pernia as the amount needed by a typical Filipino family to live decently.

“Ang dating panawagan nating pambansang minimum na sahod na P16,000 kada buwan kahit idoble pa ito ay lubhang kulang kumpara sa P42,000 buwanang halaga na kinakailangan upang mabuhay ng disente batay sa tantya ng dating kalihim ng NEDA,” COURAGE said.

(Even if our earlier call to set the minimum wage to P16,000 is doubled, it still won't be enough to meet the P42,000 monthly income needed by a family to live decently as estimated by a former NEDA secretary.)

Also, the group cited the discrepancies in wage classifications that workers in local government units (LGUs) receive as compensation, noting that there are some local government employees who receive a measly P7,000 a month salary.

COURAGE also said the salaries of lowest level workers in government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) have remained the same and never been increased under the Compensation and Position Classification System (CPCS), pursuant to Executive Order 150.

Likewise, the job order and contract of service workers in the government received lower salaries, it said.

“Kung kaya't ngayong araw, kasama ang mga lider ng mga unyon ng mga kawani sa iba't-ibang ahensya, ay ipananawagan na natin sa mga kinauukulan na gawing P21,000 kada buwan ang minimum pay sa buong bansa at sa lahat ng kawani ng pamahalaan!” COURAGE said.

(That is why today, together with the leaders of unions of various agencies, we are calling on the government to set the monthly minimum wage at P21,000 across all state workers nationwide.)

COURAGE also urged the government to address the issues faced by all workers such as rising fuel, and commodity prices. —LBG, GMA News