Labor seeks wage hikes anew amid high inflation

ment of Energy (DOE) to impose a policy to cut down power rates.

TUCP also called on the regional wage boards to grant minimum wage earners an emergency cost of living allowance (ECOLA) to address the urgent needs of vulnerable workers pending the new round of wage hikes. It said the ECOLA should be sufficient to offset the effect of infl ation on the nominal value of minimum wage rates.

Another government intervention to provide support for workers amid the rising cost of living, the labor group said, is a one-time P5,000 cash aid for 4 million minimum wage earners. e Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) also echoed TUCP’s call for wage hikes and cash grants, citing the recent decision of the Senate to raise its infl ation aid for its employees from P12,000 to P50,000.

“We would like to emphasize that infl ationary pressures are felt across Philippine society. If we can spare resources to shield our legislative staff, why can’t the same be said for the rest of the public sector, as well as those working in the private sector,” SENTRO said in a statement issued on Wednesday. Samuel P. Medenilla