Tax on salty food will lead to malnutrition–labor group

ALABOR group on Monday said the proposal of the government to impose tax on salty food will lead to widespread malnutrition. In news a statement, Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) National Executive Vice President Gerard Seno said the proposal from the Department of Health (DOH) will be detrimental especially for cash-strapped workers, who rely on cheap salty foods like instant noodles, snacks and dried fish.

He said the government should first consider raising significantly the minimum wage rates, which currently only range between P280 to P537 nationwide, so workers could afford to eat healthy foods.

“Workers and the poor informal workers and their families affinity to salty food is bound by their inadequate income and lack of alternatives in the market. They cannot afford to buy healthier food choices and food ingredients with their measly income level,” Seno said.

Last month, DOH floated the idea of taxing salty foods due to its negative effects on the health of consumers.

The Department of Finance and Department of Trade and Industry were quick to reject the idea since it will affect many manufacturers.

For his part, Seno said the suggestion was poorly thought out since it was made without any consideration for providing alternative food to consumers.

ALU-TUCP is pushing for the government to come up with a research on better alternatives for salty foods that may be taxed.

“We rather strongly recommend government to develop research- and development-based healthier, cheaper alternatives and options, and make these accessible in the market,” Seno said.

Seno is also proposed other nontax measures to regulate the purchase of salty foods, such as the government reformulating the standard sodium content for food items and information dissemination to the public to have a healthy diet.