Submitted by KMU S. Mindanao on Sat, 2006/12/23 - 2:41am.
“For eight years, workers have been campaigning for the P125 wage hike and last night’s approval of House Bill 345 is a merry Christmas gift indeed. This is definitely a much-deserved triumph for Filipino workers who have, for the longest time, been one of the least prioritized sectors in the country. No one is more credited to such victory than the workers who unwaveringly advanced their economic rights.”
This was the statement of Omar Bantayan, secretary general of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao, following the third reading approval of the legislated across-the-board, across-the-country wage increase in Congress. One hundred fifty one legislators in the Lower House voted to approve House Bill 345 in the plenary last night. The approval will send HB 345 to the Senate for its counterpart bill and approval.
“Capitalists have no reason to disagree with the legislation because the hike will be stretched over three years-- P45 on the first year and P40 for the two remaining years,” according to Bantayan. “This is more than a bargain already, considering it is the workers who beef up profit for them.”
Although Bantayan recognizes that getting the Senate’s and the President’s separate approval is an arduous task in itself, he is hopeful that the Senate deliberations will be less dragging than the Congress’. He said that by head count, there are “more sympathetic Senators in the Upper House than there are GMA-lapdogs in Congress.” He said KMU-SMR will further step up its campaign to make sure the Senate approves a similar bill that will genuinely benefit the workers.
“And the people’s ire will surely make it difficult for Arroyo to veto the bill. An illegitimate president has no right to dismiss the legitimate plight of the working people,” he said.
Bantayan, however, was wary about the wage increase compliance in the region. He pointed out that figures coming from the Department of Labor and Employment can attest to the delinquency of 26% of the region’s companies in complying with the minimum wage rate. “We challenge DOLE XI to actively pursue these delinquent companies who deprive workers of their mandated salary rates.
Bantayan also said that Congress’ approval of the bill last night was a vindication for detained AnakPawis Rep. Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran, co-author of HB 345. “Ka Bel will surely be pleased with how the bill turned out. We are hoping that he will be released before the bill gets to be enacted so he may be able to share the victory with the workers.”
“Could it be mea culpa for the representatives who earned the deepest resentment of the Filipino people in peddling Charter Change? Whatever the case, we are happy that the bill was approved and will grind our axes against these Cha-Cha dancers in Congress come May 2007 elections,” Bantayan professed in conclusion.
This was the statement of Omar Bantayan, secretary general of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao, following the third reading approval of the legislated across-the-board, across-the-country wage increase in Congress. One hundred fifty one legislators in the Lower House voted to approve House Bill 345 in the plenary last night. The approval will send HB 345 to the Senate for its counterpart bill and approval.
“Capitalists have no reason to disagree with the legislation because the hike will be stretched over three years-- P45 on the first year and P40 for the two remaining years,” according to Bantayan. “This is more than a bargain already, considering it is the workers who beef up profit for them.”
Although Bantayan recognizes that getting the Senate’s and the President’s separate approval is an arduous task in itself, he is hopeful that the Senate deliberations will be less dragging than the Congress’. He said that by head count, there are “more sympathetic Senators in the Upper House than there are GMA-lapdogs in Congress.” He said KMU-SMR will further step up its campaign to make sure the Senate approves a similar bill that will genuinely benefit the workers.
“And the people’s ire will surely make it difficult for Arroyo to veto the bill. An illegitimate president has no right to dismiss the legitimate plight of the working people,” he said.
Bantayan, however, was wary about the wage increase compliance in the region. He pointed out that figures coming from the Department of Labor and Employment can attest to the delinquency of 26% of the region’s companies in complying with the minimum wage rate. “We challenge DOLE XI to actively pursue these delinquent companies who deprive workers of their mandated salary rates.
Bantayan also said that Congress’ approval of the bill last night was a vindication for detained AnakPawis Rep. Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran, co-author of HB 345. “Ka Bel will surely be pleased with how the bill turned out. We are hoping that he will be released before the bill gets to be enacted so he may be able to share the victory with the workers.”
“Could it be mea culpa for the representatives who earned the deepest resentment of the Filipino people in peddling Charter Change? Whatever the case, we are happy that the bill was approved and will grind our axes against these Cha-Cha dancers in Congress come May 2007 elections,” Bantayan professed in conclusion.
