125 PHP

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the National Capital Region wage board will meet next week to determine if an adjustment in minimum wages is already warranted.

Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) director Vicente Leogardo Jr. told abs-cbnNEWS.com the members of the wage board will meet next week and assess if there are “supervening events” that would prompt an increase in wages.

There is usually a one-year moratorium on wage hikes. The last one was in July 2010.

Asked if he thinks there are “supervening events,” Leogardo said he would not want to preempt the decision of the wage board. ECOP represents the management in the wage board.

He noted, however, that one should look at recent inflation figures. Inflationary pressure, especially a sharp jump from the previous figure, is one of the conditions that should be studied.

The National Statistics Office said on Tuesday that inflation in March was little changed at 4.3 percent compared to 4.4 percent on the same period last year.

The government and the business sector insist that wage boards are the only mode by which a region could study the purchasing power of the peso.

This week, however, workers announced protest rallies would greet the administration if it would not certify as urgent the P125 across the board increase they have been asking Congress. They have been complaining of the continuous increase in prices of fuel and other basic commodities.

In a press conference in Malacañang, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang said “it is the height of responsibility” not to favor what the militants want.

The P125 legislated wage hike would unduly cause an inflationary spiral that the government wants to avoid, he said. – with a 
report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News




REACTION :

If you were to ask what are the basic commodities,probably your answer would be food,water and shelter.But for me,I would add oil.Why?because oil is the driving force behind industrialization.It is the one who make engines work and functions to make mobiles run which is very important in our present time.And,the prices of our commodities depends on its fluctuations.


Recently,there was an oil price hike and as expected,prices of our products increased.That's why workers want adjustment in minimum wages.But the government seems not to favor this to avoid inflationary spiral,which is an episode of inflation of prices and wages at an increasing rate and currency loses value.For me,the government should not focus on the inflationary spiral,instead,they should focus on the 88 million Filipino people who will be benefited by this.They should also consider that almost half of the Filipino people lives in the rural areas and thus,an increase in wage would be a big help for them.They should also think that if they would not approve this,there is a high probability that the rate of crimes would increase,since some people will be forcibly do wrong in order to survive.


I think,there is another reason why the government seems to delay or to dispute what the militants want,and that is for personal interest.Since corruption is already a part of the culture of our government.I hate it.Corruption should be abolished and that honesty and loyalty to the country should be their main role.They should think of others who don't have anything while others have more than what they want.


I hope that the government would approve the 125 php legislated wage hike so that their would be no protest rallies that would happen.I also hope that someday,our economy will prosper,with a government that is just.






source:http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ncr-board-meet-next-week-wage-adjustment-20110407-033124-588.html