MANILA -Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday urged the government to lead by example in complying with labor standards so as to encourage private companies to give proper wages as mandated by law.

Tulfo said the government must push for decent wages for their workers, especially to street sweepers and traffic aides, who are still being paid below the industry rate.

"It is important to lead by example. Kung ang gobyerno ay hindi nagbibigay ng tamang sahod sa mga empleyado (If the government will not give proper wages to employees), how can we expect private companies to comply with labor standards and properly compensate their employees," Tulfo said.

By doing so, he said private companies no matter how big or small, will follow the law and at the same time will end wage abuses.

Under Local Budget Circular (LBC) No. 143 (s. 2022), the salary of street sweepers and traffic aides is dependent on the income classification of local government units (LGUs).

Street sweepers, as indicated in the LBC, can earn a maximum of PHP14,993 a month to as low as PHP8,648, which is equivalent to an estimate of PHP376 a day. Traffic aides, on the other hand, can earn a maximum of PHP17,899 a month to as low as PHP9,181.00 or PHP399 a day.

"If the government is serious in protecting workers' rights and fighting against unjust labor practices, it must start by ensuring that people working for the government are earning decent salary," the senator said.

Street sweepers and traffic aides are considered the country's front-liners, especially at the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic wherein they continued reporting to work despite the dangers brought about by the global health crisis.

He said that a number of street sweepers and traffic aides are still getting wages below salary standard depending on the financial capacity of the LGUs, and if the LGU is low on income classification, the wages are also low. (PNA)