Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III
“Kailangan talaga pag-aralan nating mabuti (We need to study that carefully) before we make any drastic move,” Bello said on the clamor for a wage increase during Thursday’s Laging Handa press briefing.
The Labor chief said the most important thing that needs to be determined is whether or not local employers–already pushed to the limit by the pandemic-triggered economic crunch–could still handle the financial strain of a pay hike.
“Ang tingin namin sa mga workers, mas importante iyong kanilang status of employment, mas mahalaga sa kanila na hindi nawawala iyong kanilang status as employees (The way we see it, it’s more important for workers to maintain their status as employees),” noted Bello.
A Senate body approves three measures that would authorize the postponement of the payment of higher monthly premiums to the Social Security System, amid resistance from the pension firm over its fund life.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) led the private sector in recognizing heroes in the medical community during this pandemic via the Gawad Bayaning Kalusugan award that was presented to the initial batch of 24 awardees.
PCCI President Amb. Benedicto Yujuico said this is their way of honoring healthcare professionals “who continue to risk their lives on a daily basis just so others may live”.
PCCI President Amb. Benedicto Yujuico
The health frontliners are the true heroes of this pandemic and we are and should forever be grateful. This Gawad Bayaning Kalusugan initiated by Dr. Carl Balita serves as a national tribute to individual health professionals and healthcare teams form hospitals,” Yujuico said.
Business group rejects higher salaries as workers calls mount
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21) The labor sector is demanding a big-time increase in daily wages, saying the current ₱537 rate is not enough for Filipinos to get by.
Members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno mounted a protest action outside Mega Q Mart in Quezon City on Thursday to push for their call to raise daily minimum wages to ₱750 nationwide, especially as prices of basic goods have been surging.
The highest minimum wage is in Metro Manila, but that was last adjusted in November 2018 -– more than a year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers in Cagayan Valley were the last to receive an increase in the minimum daily salary, which was adjusted in March last year to ₱345-₱370 depending on the industry sector.