Due to the reason of mass lay-offs and the projected closure of medium and small industries, Malacanyang has decided to lay low about the wage hike. This is inconsonance with the House Representatives’ action on temporary shelving the bill proposing a P125 increase in the daily wage.  Both Malacanyang and House projected that the increase is disastrous.

This wage hike have been delayed for almost three year now. But before the recess of the House last December, a bill had been commenced for the P125 wage increase. Today, wage hike is postponed for another debate.  Since the debate in the House of Representatives consumes a lot time, and the election is fast approaching the possible increase would be implemented probably next year.

Labor Secretary Arturo Brion is questioning about where the P125 increase came from, “They probably took it from the air,” he said.

On the other hand, the Employee Confederation of the Philippines President Rene Soriano warned the disastrous chain reaction the wage increase could bring.

Side View of the Scenario

The never-ending distaste scenario between the companies (particularly manufacturing industries) and the labor sector had gone along way that even today it’s hard to visualize when or where or it will be done.  There are cases that labor sector or the Union of a particular company through the help of the labor federation had gained favorable benefits from the industry through Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), but there are more cases where more of the workers were displaced.

This situation is currently undergoing.  The authorities have done their part by pacifying both parties on view that the production should continue.  Then the same will be done again and again to the same cases.  What the authorities doing does not really solve the problem instead, prolonged it up to its maturity, and then the same arises again up to the closure of the company itself.  As a result, year after year the number of unemployed Filipino has ballooned into millions.  Many among us tried to seek stable job abroad and other seek refuge from other country.  A “brain drain” phenomenon that is no longer stoppable.

The government, as the one responsible in inviting these investors/corporations should relay the exact capability of its manpower; likewise, the government should educate the labor sector the real essence and purposes of these investors to know the adjustment to be done so that these investors would continue patronizing our services.  Well, this is easier said than done.  At the present situation, we don’t have a choice, but to wait and wait ‘til waiting no more.