Workers push minimum pay of P750 in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Labor groups are pushing yet again for government to raise the minimum wage in Metro Manila to P750 to help workers and their families “survive” amid the high cost of goods and services these days.

In its petition filed at the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, Kilos na Manggagawa (KNM), Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines and BPO Industry Employees Network pointed out that the wage hike they seek ahead of Labor Day was only a third of the estimated amount needed by a family of five to “meet their needs and live decently.”

Nonstop price increase

“Each day, Filipino workers find it harder to feed their families and survive due to the nonstop increase in the price of commodities and services,” KNM president Jen Pajel said.

Based on Ibon Foundation’s estimate, a family of five should earn at least P1,004 daily for their needs to be met.

The Philippine Statistics Authority, however, computed that a monthly budget of P10,481, or barely P350 daily, was enough for the same family to meet their food and other needs.