Bayan Muna's Colmenares urges candidates: Make clear stance on labor issues

In observance of Labor Day, Bayan Muna chairperson and senatorial bet Neri Colmenares called on his fellow candidates for the 2022 elections to state their views clearly on workers' wages, pensions, and job security.

In a statement, Colmenares asked the candidates their plans on workers' demand for a P750 national minimum wage, and said that raising wages will not only help workers but will also held economic recovery efforts.

“The government should look at wage hikes as a way to pump prime the economy. With higher wages, our workers can buy more, thereby contributing to increased economic activity. And with increased demand due to higher purchasing power, other industries can scale up their operations to meet the higher demand of consumers,” he said.

He also pointed out that it is already high time for the government to consider enacting a national minimum wage and make the wages of the employees in provinces the same as in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“With the disparity of wages between regions, increases in wages won’t make much of an impact for workers in the provinces. We need to keep wages at equal levels across the country to ensure equal pay for equal work and so that all workers are able to cope with the high cost of living,” he added.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III earlier said that he has ordered the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards across the country to hasten the review of minimum wages.

He acknowledged that the current P537 daily minimum wage in the NCR may no longer be enough to cover basic commodities such as food, electricity, and water bills.

Malacañang has expressed support for Bello's order to review the country's minimum wage.

Likewise, Colmenares asked the candidates of their stand on the call to increase the pensions and end contractualization.

“Dapat ihinto na ito (contractual labor practice should be stopped). It is highly abusive, and undermines workers bargaining power,” he said.

“Kapag may kasiguruhan sa trabaho at sapat ang sahod, magiging abot-kaya ang bilihin.  Kayang-kaya mamuhay nang may dignidad ang ating mga manggagawa,” he added.

(When there is job security and adequate wages, goods will be affordable. Our workers can then afford to live with dignity.)

In July 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed the Security of Tenure bill or the measure that sought to eliminate labor subcontracting and limit job contracting to licensed and specialized services. —LBG, GMA News