THE National Wage Coalition (NWC) yesterday said it is imperative for lawmakers to pass the law for an across-the-board salary increase for workers amid the soaring prices of basic commodities and services.
In a statement for the 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos Jr., the NWC said the workers are in dire need of a substantial wage hike as food, cost of services, and electricity inflation continue.
“The working class, who have built the wealth of our nation, have been undervalued through stagnant, starvation, and poverty wages that fail to ensure a life of dignity or even daily survival for Filipino workers and their families,” the NWC said.
“As food, cost of services and electricity inflation continue to surge, it is only fair and just that the legislated wage hike be certified as a priority measure to uplift the lives and livelihood of every Filipino working family,” the group added.
The Senate passed a P100 wage increase last February while public hearings are still ongoing in the House Committee on Labor for a P150 pay hike.
The NWC said a push from Marcos during his SONA would be welcome as it will be a strong nudge to lawmakers to act on the measure.
“To sound relevant, the President has to decisively deal with the most urgent concerns of Filipinos: controlling inflation and increasing the take-home pay of workers. Absent these, the state of the nation in his 3rd SONA will neither be sound nor improving,” said NWC.
NWC members marched from University Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City to press Congress to pass the P150 legislated wage hike bill.
