By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Labor organizations have formally challenged the recently approved P85 daily wage increase in Metro Manila, arguing that the adjustment falls far short of what workers need to cope with the rising cost of living and mounting household expenses.
The labor coalition Unity for Wage Increase Now (UWIN) has appealed the decision of the National Capital Region Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board before the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), seeking a substantially higher adjustment.
UWIN maintained that the approved wage increase does not adequately address the financial strain brought about by inflation, rising electricity rates, transportation costs, food prices, and other essential expenses affecting minimum wage earners.
“The P85 increase is simply not enough. Workers continue to struggle with soaring electricity bills, food costs, tuition fees, and other daily necessities,” UWIN spokesperson Allan Labahata said.
The group is pressing for a P505 daily wage increase, saying such an adjustment would move the minimum wage closer to the estimated P1,200 family living wage needed to support an average Filipino household.
According to UWIN, workers across the country continue to face economic hardships that require a more comprehensive response rather than modest regional wage adjustments.
The labor alliance argued that the Constitution guarantees workers the right to a living wage and urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the country’s wage boards to adopt policies that genuinely reflect prevailing economic conditions.
Labahata said the country’s economic challenges are national in scope and should be addressed through measures that provide workers with meaningful wage relief instead of minimal increases.
While labor groups continue to push for higher salaries, business organizations have expressed concern over the recently approved wage adjustment.
Employer groups warned that the P85 increase, already considered substantial by many businesses, could increase operating costs, potentially forcing some employers to reduce their workforce or, in extreme cases, cease operations.
The appeal filed before the NWPC is expected to determine whether the Metro Manila wage order will be modified or upheld.
ia/xf
