Economists and labor advocates on Monday wanted a daily wage hike of P1,200 in the private sector, saying the increase is not inflationary.
Luke Espiritu, lawyer-president of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, rejected the claim of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and the other capitalists that the grant of a salary raise could cause a “catastrophic effect on inflation.”
“Again, a wage increase has nothing to do with inflation,” Espiritu said during the Pandesal Forum held at Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City.
“There are two things why there is inflation: one is because of the weekly increases in the price of fuel products, the other one is the monopoly control over supply and demand,” he emphasized.
Espiritu, however, said they still welcome the P100 salary increase in the daily minimum wage of workers. “You (lawmakers) should not only listen to ECOP,” he noted.
To be able to live a decent life, a P750 increase is needed for a family with at least five members, according to Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general Jerome Adonis.
“We challenge the House of Representatives’ committee on labor and employment to call for a hearing, and we will answer blow by blow every question of the panel,” Adonis said.
Sonny Africa, IBON Foundation executive director, backed Espiritu’s statement that a P100 increase is inadequate.
The current daily minimum wage plus the P100 increase still falls below the subsistence level.