TUCP pleads wage hike
The ALU-TUCP has not filed any wage increase because we understand the situation. But as fuel prices continue to spike, which will affect prices of commodities and food, then we will appeal for a wage increase in the coming days or weeks
The Associated Labor Group-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) is set to demand a hike from P537 to P750 for daily minimum wage as the war between Russia and Ukraine is expected to impact the prices of the basic commodities.
The Brent crude — the global oil benchmark — has now ballooned to above $139 a barrel before easing back to below $130, but it has sent fuel pump prices to skyrocket.
Hefty price increases in fuel are to be implemented in the Philippines starting today.
Alan Tanjusay of ALU-TUCP, during a guesting in Daily Tribune’s morning program Gising Na! on Monday, said it’s about time that wages of workers are increased.
“It’s been two years now that the worker’s wage remained stagnant due to the pandemic. The ALU-TUCP has not filed any wage increase because we understand the situation. But as fuel prices continue to spike, which will affect prices of commodities and food, then we will appeal for a wage increase in the coming days or weeks,” he said.
Tanjusay said they will channel the wage increase petitions through the Wage Boards, which are under the Department of Labor and Employment, as Congress is currently in recess due for the 9 May elections.
“This is a rare situation amid this still persisting pandemic, as both
employers and employees were greatly battered by the health emergencies. We are now trying to strike a balance between the need and the clamor of the workers for a wage increase, at the same time, addressing the need of businesses and employers to be able to survive the moment the Wage Board will allow our request,” he explained.
Tanjusay stated that P750 wage is a clamor among lawmakers supportive of the call.
The current minimum wage in National Capital Region is P537 that which took effect in October 2017.