WITH meager salaries, workers will not benefit from the adjustment of holidays and special non-working days for 2023.
The Nagkaisa Labor Coalition (NAGKAISA) yesterday said low wages disallow ordinary workers from going on domestic travel and increase tourism incomes.
“The most pressing concern of the working class today is their capacity to spend above their basic needs. Thus, poverty wages would prevent them from enjoying holiday economics,” NAGKAISA spokesman Renato Magtubo said in a statement.
“The pressing need for a wage hike is not only to recover lost purchasing power, but have a living wage for workers to truly enjoy some leisure time,” he added.
NAGKAISA issued the statement after Malacañang released Proclamation No. 90, which added three more days — January 2, April 10, and November 17 — to next year’s holiday calendar.
Proclamation No. 90 is supposed to “encourage domestic travel and increase tourism expenditures” in the country.
According to Magtubo, if President Marcos Jr. really wants to help the economy recover, it would be better if he joins the push for an increase in the wages of workers, who need higher income to fight soaring inflation.
“Workers are in need of extra sources of income to meet their families’ basic food and non-food requirements,” he said. “If President Marcos really wanted to perk up the economy, he should join workers in asking Congress to legislate a wage hike.”
