Progressive groups renew call for better wages, job security 

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Various progressive groups throughout Negros Occidental gathered in Bacolod City yesterday to mark the 132nd International Labor Day observance, renewing their call for better wages and job security.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros (Bayan-Negros) Secretary-General Michael Dela Concepcion said there has been no real increase in wages since President Rodrigo Duterte came to power and, instead of substantial wage hikes, Duterte brought in price hikes as a result of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

He said TRAIN Law has widened the gap between current minimum wage levels and the estimated family living wage.

Concepcion noted, whatever incremental wage or non-wage benefit Duterte may have passed, it would still be “insufficient” to close the gap.

They are demanding the implementation of a national minimum wage, along with increasing wages to P750 for all workers.

Aside from wages, Concepcion demanded job security, saying Duterte’s “hypocrisy” is evident regarding recent issues resulting in Filipinos losing jobs both here and abroad.

He claimed Duterte is pushing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait to return home out of “nationalism,” yet his Labor Day job fairs are driving more and more Filipino workers out of the country.

He also claimed Duterte “destroyed” 36,000 jobs with closure of Boracay, saying the move was made in order to pave the way for Chinese investors.

Concepcion also touched upon the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, which he claimed would threaten the livelihood of 600,000 jeepney operators./DGB, WDJ