P33,000 MINIMUM WAGE FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

Various employees demanded for wage increase and the government employees to raise their minimum wage of to P33,000 per month. According to an economist, it should be assessed whether the government can afford it. 

Now a group of government employees is also pushing to raise their wages. The Confederation for Unity Recognition and Advancement for Government Employees (COURAGE) wants to increase the minimum wage of government employees to P33,000.

Government employees raising a call for wage increase (Photo courtesy of Ryan Baldemor/Philippine Star)

From the current P13,000 monthly salary of those in Salary Grade 1 or entry level government employees. What the COURAGE group is protesting is the P33,000 minimum wage, which is equivalent to a P1,650 daily wage.

For the labor group this is enough for a family of five to live well, "The salary should be the same across the geography, from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi the national government agencies, the local government units, the state colleges and universities, and government,” COURAGE President Santiago Dasmarinas Jr. stated.

On Labor Day, President Bongbong Marcos ordered the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board to study the increase in wage of employees in their region. He said it should be in line with inflation or the rate of increase in the price of goods and services.

According to the COURAGE group, government workers should be included in the review, "Instead of being at the Regional Wage Board, it should be across the country as well. We call on Malacañang to stop saying it is a review, they should file to declare the issue of the call for increased wages across the country as an urgent bill, whether private or public."

According to an economist, it is also necessary to assess whether the government can handle it, "The government can adjust that, for quite some time already but of course first, does the government have the funds. Then of course that also has an impact on inflation although it is in the government sector. The most important thing to look at is the budget deficit,” the economist said.

According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), any wage increases for government employees will first have to be tackled by Congress, but the department would implement it should it be approved.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said minimum wages are set to be tackled in the coming days.

Source: GMA Integrated News

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