Workers' groups appeals for P33,000 minimum wage for gov't personnel

Several groups on Tuesday appealed for an increase in the minimum wage of government workers to P33,000 per month amid the continuous spike in the prices of basic commodities in the country.

According to Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras”, the workers’ groups based the computation for the wage hike on the administration’s findings that a family of five needed around P1,119 a day to live comfortably in Metro Manila.

“Sinasabi maghigpit ng sinturon, ang totoo niyan matagal nang namamaluktot sa kumot wala nang kakapitang ang sinturon kahit na anong higpit mo. Malalaglag na yung pantalon mo dahil wala nang kinakapitan,” said Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK) President Annie Geron.

(They say, "Tighten your belts." The truth of the matter is we've been curling up under the blankets for quite some time now, belts can't be tightened any further. Trousers are going drop because there's nothing left to hitch them on to.)

Minimum wage earners in the government currently earn P12,517 per month, the report said.

All employees are set to receive adjusted compensation due to the fifth tranche of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) 5 signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte but it will only increase the minimum monthly salary to over P13,000.

“Importante 'yung pinakamababa ang may pinakamalaking increase. Di tulad ng mga nakaraang SSL. Ang pinakamataas na increase ay yung matataas na officials,” said Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Ferdinand Gaite. “Hindi survivable 'yung ganoon halaga. Sobrang liit sa mahal ng presyo ng pagkain, bilihin, upa sa bahay, kuryente, tubig at iba pa, hindi na aabot yan”.

(It is important that those who have the lowest salary receive the highest increase. Unlike the past SSL where officials in top positions receive the highest adjustments.)

His remarks were echoed by Philippine Independent Public Sector Employees Association Managing Director Mike Maga who said: “Nakikiusap kami kay Pangulong Marcos, mag-immerse ka. Subukan mong mamuhay sa isa sa mga kasamahan namin sa publiko sektor na nage-earn ng P12,500 lang. Pag sinasabi mo na iba ka then you walk the talk”.

(We are appealing to President Marcos - immerse yourself. Try to live the life of one of our colleagues in the public sector who earns only P12,500 per month. You are saying, you are different so walk the talk.)

Marcos could fulfill their appeal by issuing an executive order adjusting the allowances of all government employees, the groups added.

For its part, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it was studying the next tranche of increasing the salaries of civil servants next year.

“There’s the last tranche of SSL next year. We have likewise provided a budget under the GCG to review the compensation of government employees for a possible next round of salary increase,” DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said. — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News