WORKERS’ organizations are expected to press for a new round of wage hikes when the country celebrates the 122nd Labor Day next week.
In a joint statement, the Multisectoral Wage Alliance (MWA) said they are set to mobilize on Labor Day while pressing the call for an urgent legislated wage increase.
“The Alliance is bound to conduct assemblies, consultations, and collective mass actions demanding wage increase until the just cause for a family living wage for workers across all sectors is attained,” MWA said.
“MWA is determined to amplify its call for higher wages,” it added.
According to Unity for Wage Increase Now (UWIN) Spokesman Charlie Arevalo, the call is warranted as the minimum wages must meet family living wage (FLW) standards.
“The 1987 Constitution and the International Labor Organization Agreement on Living Wages should compel the government to meet wages that afford workers a decent standard of living,” said Arevalo.
For its part, IBON Foundation noted that the average minimum wage rate for private sector workers in the Philippines is only P440, which is below the current average FLW pegged at P1,207.
“We have established the insufficiency of current wage rates in the Philippines,” said IBON Foundation Executive Director Sonny Africa.
All Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) recently issued respective wage orders.
Several bills pending in Congress are calling for across-the-board wage increases for workers in the private sector.
