Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 29) — Various groups from different sectors reiterated their calls to raise the across-the-board minimum wage to ₱750 ahead of Labor Day on May 1.
“[‘Yung] ₱750… bakit kailangan pang ipakiusap?” Sarah Prestoza, vice chair of the BPO Industry Employees Network, said Saturday.
“Hindi naman nagse-settle for less sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo ang manggagawa,” she also said. “Dapat hindi rin nagse-settle for less sa usapin ng sahod.”
[Translation: Why do we even need to plead for the ₱750 minimum wage? Workers don’t settle for less in offering their services. It should be the same for our salary.]
Groups lamented the continued discrimination in wages, specifically for female workers and those in the agriculture sector.
\”Regional na nga, mas maliit sa regions sa labas ng Metro Manila; mas maliit pa ang tinatanggap ng mga manggagawa sa agrikultura,\” said Ariel Casilao, spokesperson of the Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura.
\”Sa Mindanao, may nakakatanggap ng ₱250 kada araw,\” he added. \” Meron pa ngang nakakatanggap ng ₱180. Less ₱50 pa ang sweldong tinatanggap ng mga manggagawang bukid na kababaihan.\”
[Translation: Aside from the low salary in areas outside Metro Manila, workers in the agriculture sector receive even lower wages. In Mindanao, some only earn around ₱250 per day; others ₱180. Less ₱50 for female workers.]
Migrante Philippines, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), likewise pointed out the low wages and lack of programs for OFWs.
It said almost 25% of migrants would choose not to work abroad if the government heeds calls for a wage increase, based on its study.
The groups stressed the higher minimum wage will not only help workers bear the soaring prices of goods and services, but will also pave the way for economic recovery, contrary to the claims of some officials.
\”Ang wage increase ay makakapag-enhance sa ekonomiya dahil makakabili kami ng mga kailangan namin sa market,\” Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general Jerome Adonis said. \”Therefore, gagalaw…at iikot ang negosyo,\”
\”Hindi kami basta-basta nanghihingi lang, kundi nakabatay sa aktwal na kailangan para mabuhay ang aming pamilya,\” he noted.
[Translation: A wage increase will help enhance the economy since it will allow more people to buy what they need. Therefore, there will be movement…among businesses. We are not just making an appeal, but this is based on what we actually need to sustain our families.]
In a televised public hearing on April 27, the Department of Labor and Employment said it is set to distribute ₱1.8 billion worth of financial assistance to workers on Labor Day as wage hikes are still under review.
