MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang remains firm on its stand opposing a legislated wage hike amid the hike in fuel prices, saying that the matter should be left to the wage boards to decide. “The government does not support a legislated wage hike,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said following calls from the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) to certify as urgent the P125 proposed wage hike.
“We support and prefer the mechanism by way of wage boards because they are in the best position to determine the working conditions, the economic conditions of those particular regions,” he added.
President Benigno S. Aquino III himself said it is up to the tripartite wage boards determine if there should be another round of wage hike, adding that the wage hike is not dictated by the President.
The wage hike for the private sector is determined by the tripartite wage boards while wage hike for government employees are governed by the Salary Standardization Law (SSL).
Some militant groups are urging the government to approve a P125 across-the-board daily wage hike, urging President Aquino to certify House Bill 3745 and 3746 as urgent that would increase the salary of workers both in the private and public sector.
This, they said, is due to the rising fuel cost and prices of basic commodities
Madel Sabater, Manila Bulletin
