BILANG pakikiisa sa paggunita sa Araw ng Paggawa, sinabi ni House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs chairman at Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron P. Salo na tiwala siyang pahahalagahan at tututukan ng liderato ng Kamara ang agarang pag-apruba sa tinaguriang ‘pro-labor’ bills.
Unang tinukoy ni Salo ang inihain niyang House Bill No. 525 o ang Minimum Wage bill, na nagsusulong sa pagpapatupad ng P750 daily minimum wage sa buong bansa.
“First, we need to address the issue of low wages. No worker should have to live in poverty because of a very low minimum wage. That’s why I am advocating for the passage of HB 525 or our Minimum Wage bill which seeks to adjust the minimum wage to P750.00 nationwide, that will allow workers to live decently,” paliwanag ng House panel chairman sa naturang niyang panukala.
Ikalawa sa ipinananawagan ng Kabayan party-list lawmaker na suportahan ng kanyang mga kapwa kongresista na maipasa na ay ang kanyang House Bill No. 520, na naglalayong bigyan ng 14th month pay ang mga manggagawa.
“We must recognize the hard work and dedication of our workers by providing them with a 14th month pay. This will not only boost their morale but also provide them with additional funds to cover their needs. In this regard we have filed HB 520, mandating a 14th month pay for all workers, whether in the government or in the private sector and regardless of the status of their employment,” ani Salo.
Sumunod na ipinapanukala ng ranking House official ang House Bill No. 521, kung saan kapag ganap na itong naging batas, ang mga government contract worker na tatlong taon nang nagtatrabho ay awtomatikong pagkakalooban ng civil service eligibility.
Sinabi ni Salo na nakapaloob din sa nabanggit na House bill na ang mga contractual, casual o job order government personnel na may limang non-consecutive years in service ay makatatanggap din ng kahalintulad na pribilehiyo.
ROMER R. BUTUYAN
