Labor group wants P100 across-the-board increase in national minimum wage

A labor organization over the weekend called for a P100 across-the-board increase in the country’s minimum wage, citing the 14-year high inflation recorded in the past month.

According to Partido Manggagawa National Chairman Rene Magtubo, the increase will address inflation as computations indicate that the purchasing power of a minimum wage earner has declined by P76 due to higher consumer prices.

No additional details were given on the group’s computation on the purchasing power, but the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the value of P1 declined to 85 centavos in October.

“I-demand namin for a P100 increase. Actually, waste recovery ito and ito ay panawagan namin sa Congress to legislate an across-the-board increase nationwide sa lahat ng mga manggagawang apektado ng inflation,” he said in Chino Gaston's report on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

“I-manage natin hindi lang ‘yung negosyo, i-manage natin pati buhay ng tao lalo na mga ordinaryong minimum wage earners,” he added.

(We demand for a P100 increase. Actually, this is waste recovery and we appeal to the Congress to legislate an across-the-board increase nationwide for all workers affected by inflation.

Let us manage not only the businesses, but let us also manage the lives of the people especially the ordinary minimum wage earners.)

Inflation clocked in at 7.7% in October, the fastest in 14 years, driven by higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages during the month.

Regional wage boards earlier this year approved an increase in the minimum wage in several regions, with the lowest in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with P305, and the highest in Metro Manila with P570 as of October 2022. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA Integrated News