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MANILA, Philippines — House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas expressed concern on Monday over the “Great Resignation” in the Philippines and urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take steps in addressing the “alarming trend” and to certify as urgent measures aimed at raising Filipino workers’ wages.
“It is clear that employees are reassessing the definition of quality work and actively pursuing more meaningful work experiences,” Brosas, a Gabriela women’s party-list representative, said in a statement.
“The solution to this is to increase salaries and offer comprehensive work benefits.”
She explained that the “Great Resignation” is a phenomenon that has been observed globally in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and has “significantly affected various industries in the country.”
The trend involves employees being forced to leave their jobs due to low wages worsened by rising inflation, job dissatisfaction, lack of upward mobility, and lack of benefits, as well as employer policies that do not prioritize their well-being.
National minimum wage
Brosas cited a recent study by United Kingdom-based recruitment company PageGroup, which found that 83 percent of Filipino respondents had planned to resign in 2022, showing their desire for change and progress towards the end of prioritizing their personal well-being.
The lawmaker lamented that many companies have been using labor flexibility and the work-from-home setup as excuses to deny workers higher wages.
She said that some Philippine companies also use the work-from-home setup as an excuse to overwork their employees with no additional compensation.
Brosas urged Marcos to certify as urgent House Bill No. 4898, which would institute a national minimum wage based on the family living wage, and HB 7568 for a P750 across-the-board wage increase for private sector workers, noting that the two measures could be merged to institute a P1,100 uniform national minimum wage.
“Raising the workers’ salary is a crucial step towards addressing the ‘Great Resignation’ phenomenon in the Philippines. Certifying these bills as urgent will bring direct and concrete relief to millions of Filipino workers across the country, ensuring that their wages are sufficient to meet their basic needs and improve their quality of life,” the lawmaker pointed out.
She assured, “We stand in solidarity with the Filipino workers and will continue to push for policies that uplift their lives and protect their rights. At a time when prices of goods and services continue to rise, the government must prioritize the welfare of the working class.”