When it comes to the concerns of the labor sector, wages take priority in importance, although security of tenure, safety inside the workplace, and retirement benefits are also important.
Sen. Imee Marcos, whose campaign slogan is finding solutions to various problems of ordinary Filipinos, has a unique idea on handling the problem of wages.
Senator Marcos asks: "Tumaas nga ang sahod sa mga probinsiya, pero sapat ba? Sa kabila ng taas-sahod para sa halos limang milyong manggagawa sa pribadong sektor, marami ang nagtatanong kung sapat ba ito sa harap ng patuloy na pagtaasng presyo ng mga bilihin."
Senator Imee Marcos, who is seeking reelection in the Senate in this May 12 midterm elections, noted that in the 14 regions, the salaries of workers were increased by a range of from P21 to P75 only.
She also noted that the "kasambahays" working in nine regions of the country were able to receive salary increases of from P500 to P1,100 only.
While the minimum wage in the National Capital Region is P645 daily, the wages in the provinces are way, way below this amount, she pointed out.
In places where the mandated salaries are low, workers are pressing their clamor for fair wages which can answer for their basic needs.
Senator Imee Marcos has a proposed solution---she is pushing for a nationwide minimum wage. She wanted all Filipino workers to receive the same amount of minimum wage wherever they may be, and this minimum wage will be the same as that enforced in Metro Manila.
This is good news for workers in the other regions, since their cost of living in key cities in the Visayas and Mindanao may be considered the same as in the NCR. The same problems of high prices of basic commodities, inflation rate, housing rent, food, transportation and medicine are faced by the masses. There are places such as San Fernando, Pampanga where electricity rates are far higher than in Metro Manila.
There will be a need for new legislation on wages to make this idea see the light of day. Senator Imee Marcos must make it to the winning circle so that she may be able to file the necessary bill to flesh out this proposal.
Trump, Zelensky, and PH
The incendiary exchange of strong words between Ukraine President Zelensky and US President Trump in the Oval Office kind of jolted the world into realizing that the American president will do anything to give both friends and foes the rough patch.
The meeting, too, showed all and sundry how the second Trump administration treats its allies, looking down at them like vassals.
With the Marcos Administration placing all its bets in the one and only American basket, this concerning encounter between Trump and Zelensky should awaken President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, to the reality of Trump's true regard for basic diplomatic decency and how to treat his country's long-time allies.
When push comes to shove, we have to rely on our own resources for national defense and security.
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