“Workers are not beggars. We don’t deserve alms and wage increase that will only be used for publicity and grandstanding of those in power,” said Jun Ancheta, Kilusang Mayo Uno Metro Manila spokesperson.
KMU Metro Manila and Defend Job Philippines held a picket protest at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City, where the Department of Labor and Employment – Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – National Capital Region (DOLE-RTWPB-NCR) conducted its public consultation for labor sector on minimum wage increase for NCR workers today.
Ancheta added, “What we need is a wage that can help us survive the deep impacts of the record-high 6.7% inflation rate, high prices and cost of living, higher taxes, high unemployment margins, and high hunger and poverty incidence rates under the current administration.”
Defend Job Philippines said that “only a meaningful, substantial and living wage increase would be acceptable for Filipino workers nationwide.”
The group said that the Duterte government must show compassion and concern to our working people by providing wage hike that will truly be helpful and beneficial for all Filipino workers.
P750 national minimum wage pushed
KMU Metro Manila also demanded to DOLE and to President Duterte to enact the P750 national minimum wage for all workers across the country. They insisted that a standard minimum wage nationwide could somehow help working Filipinos survive the rising cost of living in the country.
Ancheta said, “Prices of products and services steadily rise accordingly all over the country. It crosses no regional nor territorial boundaries. Thus, these increases must also be resolved by a national minimum wage for all workers without regionalist and provincial rate perceptions.”
To do this, he said said that it is high time for the Duterte government to abolish the Regional Wage Boards, which they said have long been discriminating workers in provinces and depriving them of of higher wages.
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