More perhaps could be enticed to shift their
career interest by joining the military and police force now that the base pay
of those in uniform has doubled. The lowest rank now gets a monthly base pay of
some P29,000, other allowances not included. Securing the country from threats
is one worthy profession.
And now public school teachers want a similar
pay raise which could create a chain of the same moves from other occupational
categories. Can the teachers get their demands this year other than the
provision under the three-tranche Salary Standardization Law? The Department of
Budget and Management said the grant is nil this year since this would require
more than P300 billion in the budget. Where will the government get this sum?
Imposing another punch of taxes is of course unpopular and may create a public roar to the already
imposed excise taxes on certain products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration
and Inclusion or TRAIN.
Wanting really high pay? The government has
announced openings for overseas employment
in Germany, Taiwan, Japan, and New Zealand. To qualify is learning the
foreign language and undergoing work training other than professional
credentials. This, of course, is highly competitive. A nurse to be employed in
Germany, for instance, will be earning in Euro equivalent to some P120,000 a
month. Sounds lucrative indeed but spending there is not in peso but in their
currency. Going back to the country could be disappointing since the sum would
be much lower than offered overseas.
Sociologically, a change in one necessitates
change in the other. Raising remunerations will demand a hike in other
occupational categories so as not to create so-called pay dislocations.
Doubling the salaries of teachers, for instance, will lead to an exodus from
private to public schools if the former’s salary range gets stuck. Economic
unrest may then ensue if pay issue is not fixed.
Soldiers and cops and teachers need decent
take-home pay… and so do other public servants down to the lowly utility
workers for they, too, render service (in different ways). Who would clean the
sanitary facilities if there are no maintenance workers… would a manager do
that for us? Excuse me… many can do housekeeping chores but not public rest
rooms.
As it goes, give credit to whom it is due. Of
course, we don’t get equal shares as this depends on credentials, ranking,
performance, and what have we. What is undesirable is economic dislocation
arising from unjust and unfair salary schemes. There are high and low posts in
employment but wanting are just and fair deals… so be it.
