Immediate Passage of a P125 Across-the-Board Nationwide Wage Hike

To:  Philippine Government

PAHAYAG NG PAGKAKAISA

Kami, mga manggagawa, empleyado, unyonista, magsasaka, maralitang taga-lungsod, manggagawa sa pamahalaan, mambabatas, kinatawan ng midya, relihiyoso, manggawang pang-kultura, akademiko, tagapagtanggol ng karapatang pantao, kabataan at estudyante, mga mulat na mamamayan ay nagkakaisa sa pangangailangan ng kagyat na pagsasabatas at pagpapatupad ng P125 across-the-board dagdag na sahod sa buong bansa.

Tayo ay nagkakaisa na dapat maibigay sa manggagawa ang nararapat niyang hati sa paglikha ng yaman at pagpapapatakbo ng ekonomiya. Dapat masuklian ang lakas-paggawa, sa pinakamaliit, ng katiyakan na maibibigay ng manggawa ang higit pa sa mga batayang pangangailangan ng kanyang pamilya. Inaatas ng Konstitusyon ng Pilipinas, at hinihingi ng katarungan, na tiyakin ng estado ang disenteng pamumuhay at kasiguruhang pang-ekonomiya ng lahat.

Tayo ay nahahabag na ang sahod ay malaon nang ipinako sa antas na lubhang mababa sa kinakailangang halaga para sa arawang pamumuhay. Mula 2001 hanggang 06, tumaas ang sahod nang 18.6\% lamang, habang ang presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin ay tumaas nang 38\%. Ang kasalukuyang pambansang average ng minimum na sahod ay karampot na 34\% lamang ng P871 living wage.

Tayo ay labis nang naghihirap sa kamakailang bugso ng pagtataasan ng mga presyo, na lalo lamang nagbibigay katwiran para sa makabuluhang dagdag sahod. Sagad na ang pagsasakrispisyo at pagtitimpi ng sambayanan sa lubhang pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, bigas, at iba pang mga bilihin.

Tayo ay nilinlang at ininsulto ng regional wage boards na nagbigay lamang ng mumong umento sa sahod. Sa 20 taon nitong pag-iral, nagsilbi lamang ang regional wage boards para hatiin, lokohin, at baratin ang mga manggagawa. Hinahayaan pa ng gubyerno na maraming ma-exempt o basta hindi na lang sumunod sa mga karampot na ngang dagdag sahod na inaaprubahan ng wage boards.

Tayo ay hindi natutuwa sa mga pakulong subsidyo at palimos ng gubyernong Arroyo na layon lamang patahanin ang nag-aalsang galit ng mamamayan, at makapagpabango para sa sarili nitong kapritso sa pulitika.

Gayon, tayo ay nagpapasyang magkaisa, magmulat, at magpakilos para isulong ang katuparan ng isang makabuluhang dagdag na sahod sa kagyat na hinaharap.


UNITY STATEMENT

We, workers, employees, unionists, peasants, urban poor, migrant-workers, government employees, legislators, media practitioners, faith-based leaders, cultural workers, academicians, human rights advocates, youth and students, concerned people unite in the need for an urgent legislation and enactment of a P125 across-the-board nationwide wage hike.

We are united that workers should be given their due share in the creation of wealth and economic production. Labor should be compensated, at the very least, by the assurance that the worker has the capacity to provide for more than the basic necessities of his family. The Philippine Constitution mandates, and a just society necessitates, the state to ensure decent living and economic stability for all.

We are dismayed that wages have long been frozen at levels far from the cost of living. From 2001-06, wages increased only by 18.6\%, while cost of basic goods rised by 38\%. The present national average of the minimum wage is just a meager 34\% of the P871 average living wage.

We suffered greatly from the recent spate of price hikes, which only heightened the urgency for a substantial wage increase. The nation has endured severely the sudden upsurge of prices due to global economic crisis, and people have been pushed further to the thresholds of survival.

We were betrayed by the regional wage boards that only granted measly and insulting wage adjustments. For its 20 years of existence, regional wage boards only served to divide, deceive, and give grossly inadequate wage adjustments to workers. The government further allows numerous exemptions and high noncompliance to wage board orders.

We are displeased by the subsidy and dole out programs of the national government that only seek to temper the growing unrest of the people, and to project publicity for its own political agenda.

Thus, we resolve to unite, to propagate, and to mobilize for the achievement of a substantial wage increase in the immediate future.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Immediate Passage of a P125 Across-the-Board Nationwide Wage Hike Petition to Philippine Government was created by and written by Wendell Gumban (unityfor125@gmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.