Workers mark Labor Day with calls for wage hike

Several workers’ groups and other organizations staged protest actions in Metro Manila on Labor Day on Wednesday to call for a wage hike.

Protesters in the morning gathered in different areas such as España Boulevard and Recto Avenue in Manila as well as in Mabuhay Rotonda in Quezon City and are planning to march to Mendiola.

“Ang pinapanawagan namin talaga legislated wage increase. Kailangan na ng manggagawa ng dagdag. Masyadong naiiwan ang sahod,” Workers for People's Liberation (WPL) secretary general Primo Amparo said in a report of GMA Integrated News' James Agustin on Unang Balita.

(What we are really calling for is a legislated wage increase. The worker needs additional wage. Wages are really left behind.)

“Partikular, dapat nga living wage. Siyempre, kung ano ang kayang ilaban naming manggagawa kahit papaano. Kailangan talaga magkaroon na ng dagdag ngayon kasi matindi na talaga ang epekto ng krisis sa buhay ng manggagawa,” he added.

(Specifically, it should be a living wage. Of course, whatever amount our workers can fight for. A wage increase is really needed now because of the severe impact of the crisis on the lives of the workers.)

Attempting to proceed to Mendiola, the protesters from the WPL were blocked by the police. Due to this, the protesters held their program on Recto Avenue.

On España Boulevard, among the groups who participated the mobilization were Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), among others.

The protesters were also calling for the P150 across-the-board daily recovery increase, according to a report of GMA Integrated News' Mariz Umali on Unang Balita.

A working student who joined the protest said there should be a national minimum wage of P1,100.

“Yung sahod po namin sobrang baba, hindi po talaga siya sasapat sa katulad ko na nag-aaral habang nagtratrabaho. Para po sa nakakarami, mahalaga na talagang binigyan ng diin yung hirap na tinutumbasan sana siya. Gusto po ko sana ma-push yung national minumim wage na P1,100,” she said.

(Our salary is very low, it will not be enough for someone like me who studies while working. For many, it is important that our hardship is equally compensated. I want a national minimum wage of P1,100 to be pushed.)

FLASH REPORT: Mga grupo ng manggagawa na nagtipun-tipon sa bahagi ng Mabuhay Rotonda, nagsimula nang magmartsa papuntang España Boulevard. | via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/kFy590O1BR

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) April 30, 2024

Meanwhile in Mabuhay Rotonda, around 2,000 protesters were holding placards calling for the abolishment of provincial pays and “equal pay for equal work”, Mark Makalalad reported on Dobol B TV.

Police were also monitoring the marching protesters to manage the flow of traffic. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News