The legislated P125 wage increase is “long overdue” and, if approved, will only serve as “an immediate economic relief” for workers in this time of increasing oil prices and the value-added tax, said Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano in his Nov. 4 statement.

He said the wage increase will not pacify the people calling for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s ouster given the “burdensome VAT that she herself implements.”

Mariano also called Labor Secretary Patricia Sto.Tomas, Economic Planning Secretary Augusto Santos and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Dep. Gov. Diwa Guinigundo “capitalist apologists” for warning that “wage increases would be inflationary.” Instead, he said that the wage increase will even strengthen the purchasing power of the people.

“Ms Arroyo’s continued refusal to certify the wage hike bill as urgent only proves her insincerity to push a P125 increase in minimum wage,” Mariano added.

Militant workers have been demanding a P125 across-the-board wage increase since 1999. (Bulatlat.com)

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