Labor Groups Appeal P85 Wage Hike, Demand P505 Increase

MANILA, Philippines — Labor groups have filed an appeal before the National Wages and Productivity Commission against the P85 wage increase recently issued by the National Capital Region Wage Board. In a statement, the Unity for Wage Increase Now (UWIN) said the P85 hike is grossly inadequate and neglects the economic impacts of recent price shocks which weighed most heavily on minimum wage earners. They are pushing for a P505 wage increase. “The P85 (increase) is not enough. We are dealing with high electric bills and our salaries are not enough. Now where do we get payment for food, tuition and everyday expenses?” lamented UWIN spokesman Allan Labahata. The group previously filed a petition for a P505 increase so minimum wages in the region can meet family living wage standards then pegged at P1,200. The alliance reiterated the urgency and justness of implementing the P505 increase, drawing attention to the Department of Labor and Employment and its wage boards’ failure to uphold the constitutional mandate to provide living wages for all Filipino workers. “We are experiencing a nationwide crisis so this warrants a nationwide solution. A meager increase in wage would not suffice. Workers all over the country should be able to experience this living wage,” said Labahata. Employers, on the other hand, have warned that the P85 wage increase was unusually high and would lead to layoffs and shutdowns. This wage dispute highlights the delicate balance in the Philippine economy between inflationary pressures and the need to improve the living standards of workers. With remittances from overseas workers being a significant contributor to household income, a decline in real wages domestically has a direct impact on the populace. Some analyses suggest this wage debate also points to the deep-seated economic challenges the Philippines faces.