The workers reiterated their demand for a P1,200 (US$18.92) national minimum wage.
CABUYAO CITY — Workers in Southern Tagalog denounced the newly approved wage increase of P25 (US$0.39) to P45 (US$0.71) for minimum wage earners, saying the adjustment offers little relief to workers struggling with rising prices of food, fuel, and other basic necessities.
The Alyansa ng mga Manggagawa sa Probinsya ng Laguna (ALMAPILA) and Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan – Kilusang Mayo Uno (PAMANTIK-KMU) described the wage adjustment as an insult to workers in Laguna and the rest of Southern Tagalog.
In a protest October 16 outside the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) IV-A office, the Workers’ Initiative for Wage Increase-Southern Tagalog (WIN4WIN-ST) criticized Wage Order No. 23 as insufficient to address the widening gap between wages and the cost of living.
“Workers in CALABARZON have long endured extremely low wages, cutting back on expenses, pawning their ATM cards, getting sick, and going hungry despite their significant contribution to the national economy,” WIN4WIN-ST said in a statement.
The groups argued that even as workers’ nominal wages increase, their purchasing power remains under pressure from the rising cost of basic goods and services.
The workers reiterated their demand for a P1,200 (US$18.92) national minimum wage. In April, the workers’ alliance filed a petition for a P600 (US$9.43) to P900 (US$14.15) wage increase.
The workers’ alliance called on the RTWPB, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Marcos administration to address workers’ demands for higher wages and better working conditions.
The groups also reiterated their opposition to the regional wage-setting system, arguing that workers’ minimum wages should not depend on the province or region where they are employed.
They called for the abolition of regional wage boards, saying the system perpetuates wage disparities among workers who face similar basic needs and rising living expenses.
They asserted that a P1,200 national minimum wage across the board would provide workers with a more adequate basis for meeting their daily needs.
The alliance also reaffirmed the need to defend workers’ rights to security of tenure, safe working conditions, and freedom of association. (RVO)
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