Workers and various labor organizations led by the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) staged a noise barrage today at the Welcome Rotonda to press for the immediate approval of the Beltran Bill (HB 345) in the midst of delaying tactics being employed by Arroyo allies in the Lower House.

“The Beltran Bill or HB 345 have reached and had been endorsed by the Senate Labor Committee and what the workers want now is to keep the ball rolling and the bill be stamped as law as soon as possible,” state Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog, National Chairperson of the KMU. The Senate Labor Committee headed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada last Monday approved the Beltran Bill but on the same day Rep. Crispin “Boying” Remulla filed a resolution seeking the recall of the bill.

Reacting to the resolution filed by Rep. Remulla to bring back the HB 345 to the Lower House, Labog said that “grease money is flowing now at the House of Representatives to delay the approval of the Beltran Bill. Rep. Remulla who is from Cavite should be the first one to smile on the approval of the bill because many of his constituents are workers or have he forgotten that.”

“Malacañang has shown their maneuverings against the Beltran Bill. First they say that it should be the Regional Tripartite and Productivity Wage Board (RTPWB) where workers should seek increase but now they support the bill as long as it goes back to the Lower House for modifications purposes. It’s a delaying tactic, pure and simple,” stated Labog.

“We are now preparing a list of all politicians seeking position this May election and their take on the Beltran Bill. Those who oppose the wage hike will be deemed 'Enemies of Workers' and we will actively campaign against them. We would like to remind those seeking office that according to October 2006 estimates, there are 16,759,000 wage and salaried workers and they are eagerly waiting for the passage of the bill,” opined Labog.

Labog said that they will continue pressing for the immediate passage of the Beltran Bill and are in the midst of preparing various industrial actions to demand the approval of the bill.