Philippine Labor Groups Renew Calls for Wage Hike, Labor Reforms

Major labor federations in the Philippines have urged the Marcos administration to prioritize long-pending labor reforms, including a legislated wage increase, security of tenure, and stronger protections for workers’ right to organize, during its remaining two years in office. The National Wage Coalition, composed of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Nagkaisa!, and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, stated that none of these measures have been enacted, certified as urgent, or included in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s (LEDAC) priority agenda. The coalition renewed its appeal for Congress to approve a legislated wage hike toward a national living wage, arguing that the recently approved P85 increase benefits only Metro Manila minimum wage earners. In the Philippines, minimum wages are set regionally, but with rising inflation and increased cost of living, many workers find it difficult to sustain themselves on the minimum wage alone. The labor groups' current demands reflect this economic pressure and may indicate public dissatisfaction with the administration's economic policies. Similar calls for wage increases have been made in the past, but legislative action has been hindered by concerns over the economic impact from the employer side.