By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

“O snail, Climb Mount Fuji. But slowly, slowly!” — Kobayashi Issa

Last week, the Committee of Labor and Employment (COLE) of the House of Representatives (HOR) headed by 2nd District of Northern Samar Representative and COLE Chairman Emil Ong spearheaded the Luzon wide consultation on the P125 legislated wage hike or the House Bill 375. The hearing was facilitated by Benguet Congressman Ronald Cosalan who is also the Vice-Chairman of COLE. The event was attended by representatives of progressive party lists and members of national and local organizations, unions and workers’ associations. Incidentally, nobody from the employers or business sector showed up to register their opposition to any wage increase as they did every time a public hearing on wage relief takes place.

During the hearing, Chairman Ong told the people that he heard that he prioritized going to the boxing match of two internationally famous boxing champs. He justified his presence at the ringside of that event saying he was there to show support to an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who was carrying the pride of the country. To other of his followers, it was reasonable. To many workers who are impoverished and can barely feed their families and send their children to school, such is shameful.

The representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and particularly the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) of the Cordillera Region were there. They aired their side by saying they are not actually against any wage hike but they are seeing to it that any increase is fairly balanced to the employers and investors. They also say that increases are based on every region’s standard of living. A representative of the workers raised a valid concern, what if the worker works in a region where wages set by the local regional wage board is low and he lives in another region with a higher cost of living? And is it not that businessmen buy (import) their products from the National Capital Region or any central source of produce in bulk and sell it in the provinces at higher prices to ensure profit and return of capital? A simple rule in the business world. So the effect is that prices will be higher in some places.

The P125 wage hike demand started way back mid-1999, that is over a decade ago by Filipino workers and their families who want to make their daily wage cope with the rising of prices and cost of services. Many labor leaders, union members and heroes who struggled alongside with fellow workers and Filipinos died not knowing where this fight has gone to.

For over 14 years the poor Filipino workers waited for the approval of the P125 while witnessing and taking in the brunt of unhampered rise of prices and the cost of living. Though a sub-committee will have to make reports of the approval of the wage hike demand from the public hearing at La Trinidad, Benguet, the people were relieved and their hopes raised that the bill will be tackled in the remaining sessions of Congress.

For the members of the Congress who are seeking re-election, now is the time to impress the workers and seriously pass the P125 wage hike demand. And if that is done, the Filipino workers always know how to return favors despite the many centuries that capitalists used their brain and brawn without any gratitude. # nordis.net