Still no major wage hike after 3 Labor Days under Marcos – Makabayan
Workers have yet to receive a significant wage increase after three Labor Days under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to Makabayan lawmakers ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (L), Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas (C), and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel (R). —INQUIRER.net file photos
MANILA, Philippines — Workers have yet to receive a significant wage hike after three Labor Days under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc said on Friday.
In a statement after the country celebrated Labor Day, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel called out the Marcos administration’s alleged indifference to workers’ struggles.
According to Castro, no huge wage hike has been implemented even if workers have endured high prices of basic goods and services. Instead of wage hikes, the administration has resorted to free train rides for those using the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).
“Sa ikatlong Labor Day ni Marcos, wala pa ring konkretong solusyon sa gutom at kahirapan ng mga manggagawa. Habang tumataas ang presyo ng bilihin, nagpapabingi-bingihan ang administrasyon sa hinaing ng mga manggagawa para sa nakabubuhay na sahod,” Castro said.
(For the third Labor Day under Marcos, we still do not have any concrete solution to the poverty and hunger of our workers. While prices of basic goods are increasing, the administration is playing deaf to workers’ pleas for living wages.)
“Apat na araw lang bang libreng sakay sa LRT at MRT ang kaya mong ibigay sa matagal nang hiling ng mga manggagawa para sa nakabubuhay na sweldo?” she asked.
(Is the government only giving workers a four-day free ride on the LRT and MRT as a solution to their call for livable wages?)
Brosas, meanwhile, questioned why the President keeps on relegating wage increases to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) when these boards have only increased salaries at a low rate.
“Nakakagalit na sa gitna ng tumataas na inflation at presyo ng mga bilihin, ang sagot ng Palasyo ay ‘pag-aaralan pa.’ Ilang taon na ba ang kailangan para pag-aralan ang kalagayan ng mga manggagawang Pilipino? The workers need immediate relief, not endless studies,” she said.
(It is infuriating that amid rising inflation rates and the cost of basic necessities, the Palace’s answer is that they will study proposals. How many years are needed to study the state of Filipino workers? The workers need immediate relief, not endless studies.)
During the celebration of Labor Day, Marcos assured workers on Thursday that the government is studying wage hike proposals — adding that these will be “addressed through the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards.”
In July 2024, the RTWPB approved a P35 hike in the daily minimum pay of workers in Metro Manila, pushing it from P610 to P645. However, many groups believe this was an insult to workers as it does not translate to tangible comforts.
READ: Marcos to workers: Gov’t studying wage hike call
Currently, there are proposals from the House of Representatives and the Senate seeking to institutionalize wage increases.
Last January 30, the House committee on labor and employment approved a substitute bill that consolidates three wage hike proposals — House Bill (HB) Nos. 514, 7568, and 7871 — which proposes a P200 per day hike for minimum wage earners.
Eventually, the proposal was approved by the House on second reading last February 3.
READ: House OKs P200 minimum wage hike bill on 2nd reading
Last February 24, the Senate approved a bill that seeks to increase minimum wages by P100 per day. The House and the Senate, however, have not yet met to address the differences in their legislated wage hike proposals.
Makabayan noted that the House proposal is not enough, and this even faces obstruction from Malacañang.
“When it comes to implementing policies that favor big business and foreign investors, the administration moves with lightning speed. But when it comes to workers’ welfare, suddenly there’s no urgency,” Manuel said.
“Bakit kapag para sa mga mayayaman, mabilis ang aksyon ng gobyerno, pero kapag para sa mga manggagawa, laging ‘kailangan pang pag-aralan’?” he asked.
(Why is it that policies for the rich get quick action from the government, but initiatives for workers have to be studied?)
According to Makabayan, Marcos should certify the House version of wage increases as urgent if he really cares for the workers, so that the 19th Congress can approve the measure.
“Ang P200 wage increase ay pumasa na sa second reading sa House of Representatives. Kung talagang may malasakit ang administrasyong Marcos sa mga manggagawa, i-certify niya ito as urgent para maipasa bago mag-adjourn ang 19th Congress,” Makabayan said.
(The P200 wage increase has hurdled second reading at the House of Representatives. If the Marcos administration really cares for workers, he should certify this as urgent so that it can be passed and approved before the 19th Congress adjourns.)
“Hindi pahayag ng pakikiramay ang kailangan ng mga manggagawa kundi konkretong aksyon. What Filipino workers need is not empty rhetoric during Labor Day but concrete action through a legislated wage increase,” they added.
(Workers need concrete actions, not need words of sympathy. What Filipino workers need is not empty rhetoric during Labor Day but concrete action through a legislated wage increase.)
