Press Release
September 1, 2008

KIKO BACKS IMMEDIATE PAY INCREASE OF RANK AND FILE EMPLOYEES
"100% salary increase should be reached by 2012..."

Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today expressed support for the immediate increase of the salary of rank and file employees, but warned that current elected officials must not be included in the pay increase so as to avoid conflict of interest.

"We support the salary hike, but this should not include incumbent officials who will be the ones approving this measure. This includes the president, the vice-president, members of Congress. Since we will be the ones endorsing this move, it is only right that we do not benefit from it,"

Kiko said.

On the other hand, "the pay increase for our rank and file employees is long overdue. In fact, we should work on the regular increase of salary for our workers. We should aim for example, a 25% increase in 2009, another 25% in 2010, until it eventually reaches a 100% increase by the end of four years," he said.

"With the cost of living at its all-time high, it is crucial that we address the low pay of our workers including our teachers, nurses, doctors and lawyers in public service. The vacancy rate in government is so high because of the low compensation of government employees. In the prosecution service for example, we have more than 40% vacancy rate and over 500 posts are unfilled. This severely affects our efforts to fight crime and lawlessness and must be addressed immediately," Kiko ended.

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