Workers demand economic relief from food crisis
Friday, May 2nd, 2008
The struggle to afford basic food staples such as rice was the focus of many of Labor Day demonstrations in Asia, where rallies were patrolled by huge numbers of police.
Thousands of workers in the Philippines marched in various cities to demand higher wages in the face of inflation that has sent food prices soaring.
President Arroyo made surprise visits to regional wage boards Thursday to show her support for an increase in minimum wages.
In an interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak, Prof. Rene Ofreneo, executive director of the multi-sectoral coalition, Fair Trade Alliance (FTA), said Arroyo’s endorsement of a wage hike is part of the government’s effort to prevent food riots.
He noted that this was the first time that a chief executive had paid such close attention to regional wage boards.
“There is an assessment by Malacanang that the food crisis, which is both global and local, has created a very sensitive situation which can ignite so much social tension,” he said.
Since poor Filipinos spend around 60% of their family income on food, he said a doubling of rice prices will surely lead to widespread hunger.
Labor leader Rene Magtubo of the workers’ party, Partido Manggagawa, warned that once cheap rice is no longer available during the lean months, food riots may also occur in the Philippines.
“Filipinos are patient, but they have a tipping point. What if there’s no rice available?” he said.
Economic relief
Labor federations have demanded wage increases of between P80 to P125 per day across-the-board to help wage earners cope with the food crisis.
“It is government’s obligation to give immediate economic relief. Given the situation of 11 million Filipinos living below $1 a day, and the wide gap between wages and cost of living, which is P858 per day for a family of six, you can call this a national calamity,” Magtubo said.
In its Multi-Sectoral Declaration for Labor Day, the Fair Trade Alliance urged the Arroyo government to “provide immediate economic relief to the poorest of the poor, both in the urban and rural areas, by way of food subsidy and the creation of emergency emmployment programs.”
The FTA also proposed that the government suspend the expanded Value-Added Tax on food, medicine, water, electricity, transportation “for the duration of the food crisis.”
“The economic crisis is sharper and more intense this year,” said Renato Reyes, secretary general of the left-leaning group Bayan. “Workers in the Philippines have every right to be angry and frustrated.”
The militant May One Movement demanded that Arroyo step down, accusing her of failing to put in place relief measures amid soaring prices of the staple rice or prioritizing a legislated wage increase.
“Workers are hungry and angry over the Arroyo government’s callousness in addressing demands for wage hikes, price controls and significant economic reforms,” said Elmer Labog, the group’s chairman.
“Calls for a legislated wage hike are justified now more than ever with the rising cost of all products, utilities and services,” he said.
Aside from wage increases, demonstrators also called for the prohibition of contractualization and the provision of more jobs to address the country’s unemployment problem.