AN INCREASE for the daily minimum wage for workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) has been approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB.) As per Wage Order No. NCR-25, a PHP 35 increase will take effect on July 17th.
From PHP 610, the minimum wage for non-agricultural workers is now PHP 645, with the Department of Labor and Employment stating that these new rates amount to a 5.7% increase from other minimum wage rates within the region.
Meanwhile, the minimum wage for workers in agriculture will be PHP 608. This also applies to those in service or retail with 15 workers or less, as well as workers in manufacturing with less than 10 regular workers.
This is thus expected to help over 988, 243 minimum wage earners within the Metro. Despite this, many have expressed their disappointment in the increase given that it is insufficient when considering the needs of the people on a day-to-day basis.
Labor group reactions
Since this announcement, many labor groups have expressed their disappointment in the given amount, especially since groups like the National Wage Coalition (NWC) had originally been advocating for a PHP 150 increase. The NWC even labeled the increase as a disgrace.
As per Joel Tongco, the union president of the Malacajar Labor Union-Federation of Free Workers, this was done to divert attention from those advocating for a PHP 150 increase, displaying the insensitivity of the wage boards toward the workers and their plights and their favor toward protecting business profits over all else.
Others, such as Jerome Adonis, the Secretary General of labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno, have pointed out that this increase isn’t even enough to buy a kilo of rice – what more if you need it to get you through the week?
He added that while workers are demanding a livable wage, what they have been offered can instead be likened to loose change.
Gen Z weighs in
The youth today are the future of this country’s workforce, but even now, they don’t seem too enthused with their possible incomes for the future.
“Base sa nangyayari ngayon sa estado ng ekonomiya ngayon, mababa yung 35,” said 21-year-old Franz Rafael Liwag, a student from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM.)
“Maganda na nagkakaroon ng progress; pinapakinggan tayo kahit papaano, pero hindi pa [yun] ganoon kataas considering triple yung pagtaas ng mga produkto sa araw araw. Hindi sapat yung PHP 35 na madadagdag sa sweldo.”
Franz notes that while in the past, PHP 1, 000 was more than enough to fill a cart with groceries, now, that’s barely enough to survive in a day, especially if you have a family.
CJ Robles, 21, who also studies at PLM, explains that she lives in an informal settlement in Tondo, Manila. For her, this increase merely amounts to a few soft drinks you can buy at the store.
“Yung 35 na yun, halos wala din siya sa mga people,” she stated.
In terms of the PHP 610 daily minimum wage, she explained that many are struggling to make ends meet given this amount, considering that they have to take into account expenses for their bills, children, and other essentials, to name a few.
She added: “Kulang na kulang yung 610 – and kung sasabihin na in-add siya ng 35, so ano?”
21-year-old student Jhonard C. Precilla also notes that while this increase is significant, there is always a need to demand more for the betterment of the lives of Filipino workers.
While for Jhonard, the current daily minimum wage may be livable given the resiliency of Filipinos, it isn’t enough for people to live a comfortable, happy life.
“Hindi naman tayo nabubuhay para mabuhay [lang]; hopefully mabigyan ang mga Filipino ng buhay na masaya at kompotable,” he said.
“Yung wage na mayroon tayo ngayon is not enough to give that for us.”
When asked how much they would propose in terms of an increase for the daily minimum wage, the amount ranged from PHP 100 to 150, similar to the clamor of several other labor groups in the Philippines.
