The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) has approved Wage Order No. 26, granting a P50 daily wage increase for minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR). The new rate of P695 per day will take effect starting July 18.
However, the announcement was met with immediate backlash from labor groups, calling the increase a “token adjustment” that fails to address the actual needs of workers facing the country’s rising cost of living.
In a statement, labor group Defend Jobs Philippines condemned the P50 increase, emphasizing that the hike only amounts to P39 in real purchasing power, which was barely enough to afford a basic breakfast. 70% of low-income families’ income goes to food alone, leaving little room to cover other essential needs such as rent, utilities, transportation, education, and healthcare.
Alwen Santos of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan echoed the sentiments.
“Insulto siya sa mga manggagawa na aktibong sumuporta sa P200 wage increase at lalo na sa P1,200 na family living wage,” he said.
Santos also assailed the regional wage boards’ scheme of declaring token increases instead of implementing the proposed P200 daily wage increase.
“Deka-dekada nang tingi ang pagpapatupad ng dagdag sahod habang walang tigil ang pagtaas ng mga bilihin, hanggang ngayon tingi pa rin ang tugon ng estado,” he added.
Santos further emphasized the disparity in wages between NCR and the provinces.
“Malaking problema din ito sa mga manggagawa sa probinsya na hindi makatatamasa ng wage increase. Pareho lang naman ang presyo ng mga produkto sa buong bansa pero napakababa ng sahod ng manggagawa sa mga probinsya kumpara sa NCR.”
The campaign for a P200 wage increase and the proposal of a P1,200 family living wage gained traction in the 19th Congress with the passing of House Bill 11376 or “Wage Hike for Minimum Wage Workers Act” last June 5. However, the bill didn’t pass through the Senate after failing to reconcile with its counterpart bill SB 2534, which only proposed a P100 wage increase. As the iterations of the bill failed to ratify in the 19th Congress, both bills were considered killed.
Meanwhile, lawmakers from the 20th Congress refiled the wage hike bill upon assuming their seats on Monday, June 30. ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio refiled the wage hike bill as House Bill 202 as one of its priority bills.
