NAGKAISA chairman and senatorial candidate Jose “Sonny” G. Matula on Sunday renewed his call for Congress to pass an across-the-board P150 legislated wage hike.
“This election is a pivotal moment for labor representation in the Senate as well as in the House,” he said in a statement. “It is essential that while we investigate past abuses, we also advance legislation that will safeguard workers’ rights and improve their lives.”
Mr. Matula also pushed the state to double its efforts to address the plight of contract-based workers.
Other labor leaders seeking Senate spots are May One Party Secretary General Jerome Adonis, National Confederation of Labor President Ernesto Arellano, and Philippine Workers’ Party Chairman Leodegario Q. De Guzman
In February, the Senate passed on third and final reading a P100 across-the-board increase for private-sector workers. The House of Representatives has yet to pass a counterpart bill.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in July approved a P35 minimum wage hike for workers in Metro Manila. This brought the minimum daily pay for nonagricultural workers in the region to P645.
“We (candidates from the labor sector) are also challenging political dynasties in Congress and would like to offer better alternatives to the electorate,” Mr. Matula said. —John Victor D. Ordoñez
