No matter how long the street march will be and no matter how loud the speakers will sound, there won't be any wage increase announcement today, May 1, Labor Day. That was what government spokesmen announced as thousands of laborers troop to the streets today for the annual Labor Day rally.
First of all, the wage board tasked to determine the supervening events that will lead to a wage increase has not come up with a decision on whether or not there is really a need to increase the salaries even if it is clear that our minimum wage earners are struggling to provide for their families what with the series of fuel price hike and the increasing prices of basic goods.
Members of the wage board don't actually have to think hard to determine if there is really a need to increase the minimum salary. Just consider the series of increases in the prices of fuel and basic commodities plus the move of schools, colleges, and universities to increase tuition in the coming school year and then they will surely see the need to approve a wage increase even without much thinking.
Of course, the business group will protest any form of salary increase because it would mean a deficit on their part. Not really a deficit on the business's operating cash but on the net profit of the business owners. I don't think a P30 or a P50 increase on daily wage will ever cause the closure of a business organization. Yes, it could diminish the profit of the employer but can you not at least think about the welfare of the people, your employees, who are working hard to send money into your coffers?
Today marks another observance of the Labor Day. But as with other Labor Days, workers who will attend the rallies around the country won't be going home smiling because there will not be any wage increase announcement for today.
