Labor groups demand for livable wage, reject charter change
Labor and cause-oriented groups led by the Akbayan Party called for livable wages and rejected charter change on Labor Day, Monday, May 1.
"Living Wage, Not Charter Change. This was the call of the Akbayan Party amid the government's failure to curb rising inflation, which it said is undermining the Filipino workers' purchasing power," Akbayan expressed.
Members of the Akbayan Party and other labor groups march along España Boulevard on Labor Day, May 1.
Jeff Crisostomo, Akbayan communications director, said that members of the party led by Akbayan Chairperson Atty. Gio Tingson joined the broad labor movement mobilization with NAGKAISA Labor Coalition and Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) members.
The movement was led by All Philippine Trade Unions and was composed of more or less 25,000 members of various labor groups.
The groups marched from España Boulevard to Mendiola, Manila. They also held a program near Malacañang.
Akbayan said that the country's minimum wage, which varies by region, "is not enough to provide workers and their families a good quality of life."
In the National Capital Region (NCR), the minimum wage stands at P533 to 570 per day.
"Ang sagot sa mataas na inflation ay hindi ang paglapastangan sa ating Konstitusyon. Ang kailangan ng manggagawang Pilipino ay makatarungang sahod at disenteng trabaho (The answer to high inflation is not to trample on our Constitution. What Filipino workers need are fair wages and decent work)," Akbayan President Rafaela David said.
The party dubbed the country's minimum wage "zombie wages"Â or a "living dead salary."
The labor groups said that an average worker needs at least P1,000 per day to afford a decent way of living.
"The daily lives of workers are too precious to waste on things that aren't urgent. Charter change is unnecessary at best, and a distraction at worst. Our working people need a change that they can see, feel, and take home to their families," David also said.
The party called on the administration of President Marcos to unite the nation to enhance the life of Filipino workers
"Our lawmakers should instead devote their time and energy to immediately pass a legislated wage hike so that workers will finally enjoy a truly living wage," David added.
"Living Wage, Not Charter Change. This was the call of the Akbayan Party amid the government's failure to curb rising inflation, which it said is undermining the Filipino workers' purchasing power," Akbayan expressed.
Members of the Akbayan Party and other labor groups march along España Boulevard on Labor Day, May 1.
Jeff Crisostomo, Akbayan communications director, said that members of the party led by Akbayan Chairperson Atty. Gio Tingson joined the broad labor movement mobilization with NAGKAISA Labor Coalition and Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) members.
The movement was led by All Philippine Trade Unions and was composed of more or less 25,000 members of various labor groups.
The groups marched from España Boulevard to Mendiola, Manila. They also held a program near Malacañang.
Akbayan said that the country's minimum wage, which varies by region, "is not enough to provide workers and their families a good quality of life."
In the National Capital Region (NCR), the minimum wage stands at P533 to 570 per day.
"Ang sagot sa mataas na inflation ay hindi ang paglapastangan sa ating Konstitusyon. Ang kailangan ng manggagawang Pilipino ay makatarungang sahod at disenteng trabaho (The answer to high inflation is not to trample on our Constitution. What Filipino workers need are fair wages and decent work)," Akbayan President Rafaela David said.
The party dubbed the country's minimum wage "zombie wages"Â or a "living dead salary."
The labor groups said that an average worker needs at least P1,000 per day to afford a decent way of living.
"The daily lives of workers are too precious to waste on things that aren't urgent. Charter change is unnecessary at best, and a distraction at worst. Our working people need a change that they can see, feel, and take home to their families," David also said.
The party called on the administration of President Marcos to unite the nation to enhance the life of Filipino workers
"Our lawmakers should instead devote their time and energy to immediately pass a legislated wage hike so that workers will finally enjoy a truly living wage," David added.