President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has called on individual employers to implement more non-wage benefits particularly for women laborers.

During her visit in Dumaguete City recently, Arroyo said that there are many women workers in the factories she has visited around the country. “Many of our export-oriented industries are women labor-intensive,” she added.

Arroyo said she has broached to employers in export-oriented industries the idea of putting in place more non-wage benefits for the female labor force, such as day care centers. She also said she is encouraging them to put up a day care center, which is one form of non-wage benefit.

She stressed that day care centers in factory areas like Clark where there are many working mothers would be a non-wage benefit with much impact.

Labor leaders from the various labor groups, including the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the National Alliance of Teachers and Office Workers, have been presenting their "requests" for wage hikes to the RTWPB-NCR.

Aside from the proposed P80 across-the-board wage increase for workers in the National Capital Region, labor representatives are also asking for non-wage benefits such as exemptions from taxes and housing loan benefits, more job and livelihood opportunities and a freeze on tuition fee increases this coming school year.*RG

back to top