Labor group lauds proposed P200 monthly subsidy

Filipino construction steel-men working joining column steel pieces on board scaffolding pipes on high-rise building in San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines. (Rey Borlaza / Shutterstock.com)

MANILA — A labor group on Tuesday welcomed the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) proposal to provide a PHP200 monthly subsidy for minimum wage earners in the country.

“This is great news to workers who stand to benefit from the subsidy,” Allan Tanjusay, spokesperson of Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) said in a text message.

While he admitted that such amount is meager, Tanjusay said this will help minimum wage earners to cope with the rising prices of basic commodities.

“Though it may not be enough, this will provide a measure of relief to workers who are hard up making both ends meet during these difficult times with inflation continuing to rise,” the ALU-TUCP official added.

The ALU official also vowed to continue pushing for a PHP500 subsidy to workers.

“Though we are proposing for PHP500, we will continue to push the DOLE and the government to raise the amount to improve greater relief for workers and their families,” he said.

“We appeal to President (Rodrigo) Duterte to please make, this time around, the right decision in favor of workers by granting not just PHP200 subsidy but PHP500 just what we have proposed to him,” the labor group official added.

At the same time, Tanjusay is hoping that the subsidy will not replace the increase in the salaries of workers that the wage boards may possibly give to employees.

“We hope that the subsidy will not replace or negate the wage increase that the wage boards are about to grant workers,” he added.

On Tuesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said his agency is looking to provide subsidies amounting to PHP200 per month to 4.1 million minimum wage earners nationwide to help them cope with the rise in prices of basic goods.

Bello III added that they are planning to give the amount which is good for 12 months equivalent to PHP2,400.