Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 2) — A teachers’ group said the ₱40 wage increase granted by the government last week is a mere “token” as workers from the private and public sectors deserve a living wage.
In a statement on Sunday, Vladimer Quetua, chairperson of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), said the ₱40 wage increase approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in the National Capital Region does not come close to meeting the needs of workers in Metro Manila.
“The ₱40 increase in the minimum wage is a mere token that fails to address the rising cost of living, inflation, and the growing demands of Filipino workers in the private sector. This meager increase remains inadequate in providing workers with a living wage, falling significantly short of meeting the ₱1,160 family living wage a five-member Filipino family needs to survive. This measure is a pittance and a slap in the face of workers who are the backbone of our economy,” he said.
The increase raised the daily minimum wage in Metro Manila to ₱610 for workers in the non-agricultural sector, and ₱573 for those from the agricultural sector. But the Ibon Foundation said that as of May 2023, a family in NCR should receive a daily wage of ₱1,160 to live decently — covering food, house rental, facilities, and other expenses.
Wage Order No. NCR-24 will take effect on July 16, or 15 days after its publication on June 30. The National Wages and Productivity Commission affirmed the order on June 27. The Department of Labor and Employment expects 1.1 million minimum wage earners to receive the wage increase.The wage increase drew mixed reactions from lawmakers.
Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas said she was disheartened as ₱40 would not even be enough to buy a kilo of rice and remains far from the ideal living wage.
Senator Grace Poe also said that the increase was insufficient and called on employers who have the financial capacity to give other benefits to their employees.Senator Jinggoy Estrada, on the other hand, welcomed the increase, saying that while the amount might not be enough, it “serves and protects the interests of all stakeholders.”
