The Kilusang Mayo Uno Labor Center welcomed the possibility of Senate bets engaging in debate and recommended the issue of wage hike to be one of the debate propositions.

“The issue of wage hike and the posture of Senate candidates on this matter is very crucial for all working people in their decision to go for a candidate or not. Since they are seeking legislative position, one proposition should be whether or not they are in favor of the Barinaga-Beltran Bill seeking for P125 across-the-board wage hike?” stated Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog, National Chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center.

The Barinaga-Beltran bill was endorsed by Senate Labor Committee and the Lower House but was outmaneuvered by anti-worker solons headed by House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Majority floor leader Prospero Nograles and Rep. Crispin Remulla who filed the motion for reconsideration on the bill.

“Another important matter that should be discussed is how they can improve employment. With unemployment rate and underemployment at 40.8% (NSO, Labor Force Survey Oct. 2006), nearly half of the 35.8M total labor force are facing great difficulties about work. The current plight of our medical professionals is an important point and we must hear every Senate bet on how they can increase the benefits of our nurses and doctors to make them stay in the country instead of working abroad,” said Labog.

The labor leader also said that the issue of political killings, especially of unionist and labor activist should be part of the debate. “We must hear what this candidates plan to do to stop the bloodbath in our country and how they will go about to seek justice for the victims and their families,” ended Labog.