PHP 50/day minimum wage increase is a drop in the bucket

 

Image from ABS-CBN

Five P10 coins may be the biggest alms that the NCR wage board ever gave workers, but it is still barya (small change). The PHP 50/day minimum wage increase, bringing the new minimum wage to PHP 695, is woefully inadequate in addressing the skyrocketing cost of living in Metro Manila. With a daily living wage of over PHP 1,200 for a family of five, this increase barely makes a dent in the poverty faced by workers.

 

Working poor despite wage hike

 

The new minimum wage of PHP 695 translates to a monthly salary of PHP 15,290 (based on 22 working days). However, this is still below the regional poverty threshold of PHP 15,713 as of 2023. Given the rising cost of living, the poverty threshold is likely even higher now, making workers in Metro Manila even poorer.

 

Call to action

 

The labor movement recognizes that the current wage system perpetuates cheap wages. That's why we're fighting for real change through a legislated wage increase of PHP 200 in the upcoming 20th Congress. We urge all workers to unite and join the fight for a legislated wage hike that will genuinely improve our standard of living. Together, we can demand a fair wage that allows us to live with dignity. 

LGBTQ+ youth event underlines pride in work not just in identity

 

To highlight the participation of LGBTQ+ young workers in Pride Month and underline the call for pride in work not just in identity, Partido Manggagawa (PM), its youth wing PM Kabataan and allied organizations are holding a community event on the this afternoon at the Gawad Kalinga Multipurpose Hall Paradise Heights in Smokey Mountain Tondo.

 

In joining this month’s celebration of Pride, PM demands extending it beyond identity politics, believing that the fight for freedom and equality go beyond state recognition and corporate accolades.   

 

These calls include fair wages in the form of wage hikes and the realization of living wage, freedom of association, regular employment, and better working conditions.

 

“Real Pride means demanding structural change. Pride in work, not just in identity (Pride sa pagawaan, hindi lang sa katauhan),” stated Pavs Pavillon, a LGBTQ+ leader of PM Kabataan.

 

Pavillon added that “Pride, therefore, must go beyond symbols and celebrations of identity. We need to talk about rights on the job — about wages, full employment and decent work for all, dignity, and equal treatment in the workplace.”

 

For decades, wages in all 17 regions in the Philippines stayed below the national poverty threshold, at the same time regular jobs and trade unions are being destroyed by contractualization and other restrictions - including union-busting, intimidation, and killings.

 

Along with these problems we continue to see workplace discrimination every day. For instance, gay workers in one big factory in Calabarzon are forced to cut their hair short, and they’re not allowed to use hairnets as an alternative. Lesbian workers are pushed into heavy lifting tasks just because they “look strong” — with no regard for how menstruation or physical strain might affect them. Even in social activities, LGBTQ+ workers are excluded: there’s funding for company sports fests, dance contests, and more — but anything LGBT-themed is banned.

 

When LGBTQ+ workers are treated as “less than,” it weakens the whole workforce. It justifies low pay, divides workers, and lets management off the hook. Fighting for equality and against discrimination isn’t just for a few — it’s for all of us who want better conditions, fair treatment, and real freedom.

 

Pavillon ended with “This Pride and for the next pride marches, let’s stand and fight together not only for acceptance — but for recognition, equality, and collective action. Because there’s no true liberation if our workplaces and communities are still sites of oppression.”

PRESS RELEASE

Partido Manggagawa Kabataan

 

PRIDE IN WORK, NOT JUST IN IDENTITY

In joining this month’s celebration of Pride, Partido Manggagawa (PM) calls for extending it beyond identity politics, believing that the fight for freedom and equality go beyond state recognition and corporate accolades.   

 

These calls include fair wages in the form of wage hikes and the realization of living wage, freedom of association, regular employment, and better working conditions.

 

PM, its youth wing PM Kabataan and allied organizations are holding a community event on the afternoon of June 29 at the Gawad Kalinga Multipurpose Hall Paradise Heights in Smokey Mountain Tondo in commemoration of Pride Month.

 

“Real Pride means demanding structural change. Pride in work, not just in identity (Pride sa pagawaan, hindi lang sa katauhan),” stated Pavs Pavillon, a LGBTQ+ leader of PM Kabataan.

 

Pavillon added that “Pride, therefore, must go beyond symbols and celebrations of identity. We need to talk about rights on the job — about wages, full employment and decent work for all, dignity, and equal treatment in the workplace.”

 

For decades, wages in all 17 regions in the Philippines stayed below the national poverty threshold, at the same time regular jobs and trade unions are being destroyed by contractualization and other restrictions - including union-busting, intimidation, and killings.

 

Along with these problems we continue to see workplace discrimination every day. For instance, gay workers in one big factory in Calabarzon are forced to cut their hair short, and they’re not allowed to use hairnets as an alternative. Lesbian workers are pushed into heavy lifting tasks just because they “look strong” — with no regard for how menstruation or physical strain might affect them. Even in social activities, LGBTQ+ workers are excluded: there’s funding for company sports fests, dance contests, and more — but anything LGBT-themed is banned.

 

When LGBTQ+ workers are treated as “less than,” it weakens the whole workforce. It justifies low pay, divides workers, and lets management off the hook. Fighting for equality and against discrimination isn’t just for a few — it’s for all of us who want better conditions, fair treatment, and real freedom.

 

Pavillon ended with “This Pride and for the next pride marches, let’s stand and fight together not only for acceptance — but for recognition, equality, and collective action. Because there’s no true liberation if our workplaces and communities are still sites of oppression.”

Peace, Not War: A Call for the Welfare of OFWs and the Filipino People

Photo from DMW

Middle East Conflict Fuels Oil Price Hikes, Endangers Migrants

 

Oil companies are raising prices by over P5 per liter tomorrow due to escalating conflict in the Middle East, Partido Manggagawa (PM) calls for an immediate halt to the bombings by the United States and Israel in Iran, and a ceasefire in Gaza, in defense of the safety and welfare of Filipino migrant workers and the broader public.

 

“The world needs a war against poverty not a war of aggression by Bibi and Donald. This war is not just a distant conflict—it’s a crisis that reaches our dinner tables. As war rages on, fuel prices spike, remittances decline, and working families suffer the consequences,” said Lawrence Cusipag, one of PM’s spokespersons.

 

Over 200 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have requested return from Iran and Israel following the Department of Foreign Affairs' decision to raise the situation to Alert Level 3. Yet as they return, they face an economy plagued by low wages and rising prices.

 

The latest Israeli airstrikes on Iran have intensified regional instability and come on top of Israel’s continuing attacks on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The United States has provided unwavering military and financial support to Israel, even vetoing multiple UN ceasefire resolutions.

 

PM emphasizes that the roots of the conflict lie in long-standing imperialist interests—particularly control over oil and other natural resources in the region. History shows this same pattern in the US invasion of Iraq and the demonization of Iran's nuclear program.

 

“The real fight is not between nations, but against poverty. War benefits only the powerful; it is the workers and the poor who pay the price,” argued Cusipag.

 

PM demands the following:

 

Guarantee decent jobs and reintegration support for returning OFWs

 

Stop US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran

 

Implement an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians

 

Advance peace, not war

Reporma Lagpas kay Sara! Legislated Wage Hike, Now Na!

PAHAYAG

Partido Manggagawa

June 10, 2024

Tama, pero kapos. Tuloy, pero bitin. Ganito namin inilalarawan sa PM ang mga kaganapan ngayon, sa dalawang huling nalalabing araw ng sesyon ng Kongreso.

Salamat naman at si SP Chiz Escudero ay nahimasmasan, tumiklop sa kahihiyan kahit na hanggang sa dulo ay kimkim ang sama ng loob sa pagkatalo ng kanyang posisyon. Dahil sa kanyang paliwanag, kahit na may salitang “forthwith” na dapat sundin, ang impeachment trial ay hindi dapat minamadali. Ibig sabihin, pwedeng mabagal, pwedeng dahan-dahan. O pwedeng hindi na lang.

Teka-teka ang tawag sa ganitong pulitika. Ganito ang pulitika na hindi nakatuntong sa matibay na panininindigan para sa tama at mali, sa nararapat at hindi. Ganito ang makasariling pulitika, ang timbangan ay nakasentro sa sarili o kaya ay sa dynasty. Ngunita lam natin na hindi solo ni Chiz ang ganitong pulitika.

Makikita natin ang marami sa kanila sa proseso mismo ng impeachment, kapag nagsimula na ang trial. May inisyal nang palatandaan. Kagabi ay siyam lamang ang bumoto pabor sa “proceed”, anim ang tumutol, at walo ang nyutral. Neutral? May ganun? Magbabago ang komposisyon ng Senado sa 20th Congress kaya’t magkakaroon pa ng rigodon.

Subalit kung nababagalan ang marami sa takbo ng impeachment, ano pa sa tinatakbo ng legislated wage hike? February last year pa naipasa ng Senado ang P100 increase, pero sa Kamara nito lamang nakaraang linggo naipasa ang P200. Para mapabilis ay dapat nag-usap na ang bicameral panel para dito, pero wala pa. Dahil dito ay mamimiligrong hindi ito maipasa.

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit hinihimok din namin mga ang mga mambabatas na manumpa, hindi lamang bilang mga justice at prosecutor sa impeachment court, kundi para maipasa ang legislated wage hike na nakabinbin ngayon sa Kongreso.

Nakapanumpa na si SP Chiz Escudero bilang presiding justice at maaring ngayon o bukas ay manumpa na rin ang lahat ng senador.  Subalit ang wage hike ay wala pang naitatalagang conferees ang Senado para sa Bicam. May mga pahayag din mula sa ilang Senador na bubusisiin pa nila ng husto ang naipasa nilang panukala, bagay na lalong magpapabagal o ganap na pumigil sa pagpasa nito. 

Matatagalan ang nabuksang paglilitis sa impeachment dahil tatawid pa ito sa 20th Congress, samantalang ang wage hike bill na P100-P200 ay naghihingalo sa antas ng bicam at nanganganib pang di makarating sa Palasyo para maging batas. Nanunulay din ito sa presyur ng capitalist veto dahil sa pagtutol ng mga negosyante at economic managers ni Bongbong Marcos. 

Naniniwala kami na may magagawa pa ang Kongreso kung magkakaisa lamamg ang dalawang Kapulungan na maipasa ang wage hike bill kahit nasa last two minutes na tayo ng labanan. Kung hindi ito magagawa, ito ay pagtalikod sa kanilang tungkulin at pagyuko sa capitalist lobby laban sa manggagawa.

Ang ganitong kabiguan ay lalo lamang magpapatibay at magpapatunay sa aming paniniwala na kapos ang impeachment ni Sara kung walang kaakibat na mga reporma, katulad sa mga naunang impeachment.  

Naninindigan kami na ang reporma ay dapat lagpas sa impeachment ni Sara, at ang pagtugon sa kahilingan ng mga manggagawa na baguhin ang maling patakaran na naglibing sa sweldo sa starvation at poverty level ay mas malaking inhustisya na dapat ituwid ng mga mambabatas. 

Reporma Lagpas kay Sara! Legislated Wage Hike, Now Na!

Maraming salamat!