Wage hikes
PEOPLE can understand that many of the country’s employers cannot grant wage hikes to workers at this time because of the current economic situation in the Philippines.
Like in other parts of the world, the country, where the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has killed close to 45,000 people, is still trying to reopen the local economy.
In fact, many displaced workers are still awaiting reinstatement, with their employers unable to resume operations because of government-imposed quarantine restrictions.
What’s worse is that people are still afraid to go out, knowing full well that “wala pa ring natutuklasang gamot laban sa nakamamatay na COVID-19 na nagpapahirap sa mundo.”
In view of many, only the big business firms are in a position to grant no more than a token wage increase to appease their restive workers as the holiday season approaches.
“Hindi kagaya ng mga nakaraang taon, di masyadong nagrereklamo ang mga manggagawa sa pribadong sektor dahil alam naman nilang talagang hirap ang mga kompanya,” a worker said.
What is important now is for the government, through concerned offices, to help distressed private business establishments to enable them to resume operations.
These business establishments, many of them with less than 10 workers, really want to help their displaced workers, who are forced to beg money from relatives and friends.
Certainly, the government cannot afford to have industrial unrest at a time when the economy is still struggling.
Ang kailangan natin ngayon ay matulungan ang mga employer at manggagawa.
