PNoy wants speedy work on pay hike petitions

President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday, Labor Day, asked the country’s regional wage boards to speed up the processing of wage hike petitions, saying the move can ease the escalating tension between company managements and labor groups. “Baka naman po puwedeng paspasan na ng mga wage board ang pag-asikaso sa mga isyung ito, upang makatutok na rin ang mga manggagawa sa kani-kanilang mga trabaho, at pare-pareho na tayong makahinga nang mas maluwag," Aquino said in a speech in Malacañang. Wage-hike petitions are pending before the National Wage and Productivity Commission, covering appeals for a P75- and a P100-increase for workers in Metro Manila and in Regions 7 and 10, respectively. In justifying talks on a wage hike, regional wage boards cited the steady rise in oil prices and the ballooning inflation. In his speech, Aquino acknowledged the business sector’s concerns over the proposed salary increase. “Pero hindi natin kayang magbingi-bingihan sa mga daing ng ating mga minimum wage earners," he said. [See full text of Aquino's speech] In April, the President said he has no right to dictate on the regional wage boards. PNoy: No to ‘artificial’ moves Aquino also said the government has started to process the mid-year bonuses of government workers. He added that the government will raise the salaries of government workers in June — not in July as the third tranche of the salary standardization was earlier scheduled. “Pinaaga po natin yan ng isang buwan dahil alam kong malaking bagay ito, lalo na’t magpapasukan na naman. Alangan namang ipagpabukas pa natin ang kaya naman nating ibigay ngayon," Aquino said. He also noted the government’s aid for overseas Filipino workers. “Hindi kami nagsawang magpabalik-balik sa Egypt, Libya, o Japan, magastos man o mapanganib — dahil alam naming may mga batang naghihintay sa kanilang mga magulang, at may mga asawang nangangamba para sa kaligtasan ng kanilang minamahal," he said. Aquino, however, said his administration cannot settle for “artificial" moves, such as abolishing the oil deregulation law. “Ang ganda nga naman pong pakinggan: sasabihin ng gobyerno, ibaba ang presyo ng langis, at bababa nga ito. Pero paano naman po natin gagawin ‘yan, kung talaga namang tumataas ang presyo sa pandaigdigang merkado? Saan tayo huhugot ng panustos sa diperensya ng presyo?" he said. He added, “Marahil po, nakasanayan na natin na ang Araw ng Manggagawa ay nagiging Araw ng Bolahan. Isang araw tayong paliliguan ng pa-poging numero ng pamahalaan, habang buong taon naman nila tayong tatalikuran." Reforms will come gradually, the President explained. “Nambobola lang po ang mga nagsasabing sa loob ng isang tulog o isang buwan ay magbabago na ang lahat. Kalokohan po iyan. Ang maliwanag po, papunta na tayo sa tunay at makabuluhang pagbabago," he said. Labor groups unimpressed Militant workers, however, were not impressed with Aquino’s Labor Day offerings this year. “Sinabi naming walang magiging laman ang pronouncements ng Malacañang," Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general Elmer Labog said in an interview on dzBB radio. At a breakfast meeting with labor leaders on Sunday, Aquino said that while reforms cannot be expected overnight, the government is working to improve the lives of workers and employers. Last week, Aquino said the government may announce “good news" to the public on Labor Day if the government’s economic managers finalize their recommendations to cushion the impact of oil price hikes on key sectors. Profit cuts Measures to ease the burden of the country’s workers include profit cuts on the part of employers, as proposed by militant think-tank Ibon Foundation in mid-April. The purchasing power of the average Filipino’s salary has grown weaker over the years, according to a special report on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation" newscast. — KBK/LBG, GMA News