Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has asked wage authorities to increase the daily minimum wage in Northern Mindanao from the current P365 rate to P778.
In its petition filed on Monday, the labor group said minimum wage earners could no longer cope with the high cost of living since wages were last adjusted more than three years ago.
The current minimum wage rate in Northern Mindanao translates to a monthly pay of P9,490 that is below the official poverty threshold of P14,302, the TUCP added.
“Our wages are ridiculously low and setting the stage for massive malnutrition and hunger,” TUCP president Raymond Mendoza said.
This was the fourth regional wage board petition filed by the TUCP recently in the wake of skyrocketing fuel prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict since February.
The labor group had asked to increase the daily minimum wage in Metro Manila from P537 to P1,007; in Central Visayas from P404 to P834; and in Davao Region from P396 to P814.As of last week, wage hike petitions have been filed in six regions, namely Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.
The labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno wanted the daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region set at P750.
The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives wanted P750 as the daily minimum wage nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Partido Manggagawa called on Congress to legislate a P100 increase in the daily minimum wage nationwide.
Admitting that prices have skyrocketed due to the war in Ukraine, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has ordered all regional wage boards to study the possibility of increasing the daily minimum wage as well as the minimum monthly pay of domestic helpers.
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