The largest labor union in the Philippines filed a petition today seeking a PHP710 (US$13.63) wage increase per day for Metro Manila workers, just two days before Labor Day.
The minimum wage for employees in Metro Manila is currently set at PHP537 (US$10.31) per day. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines’ (TUCP) petition said this should be raised to PHP1,247 (US$23.95) because the rising cost of food and services in the city make the current minimum wage insufficient.
The petition was filed at the National Capital Region Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Malate, Manila.
“The current PHP537 wage for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila is highly insufficient in the light of rising costs food and services caused by taxes and inadequate government services and social protection assistance to poor Filipinos,” the TUCP said in the statement.
This comes after the Philippine Statistics Authority and National Economic Development Authority said earlier this month that a family of five can be considered out of poverty if they have PHP349 (US$6.70) per day or PHP10,481 (US$201.27) a month.
The TUCP, however, said that daily wage earners in Metro Manila need the PHP1,247 (US$23.95) pay per day just so their families can lead decent lives.
The last wage increase was in November 2018, which raised the minimum wage in Metro Manila from PHP512 (US$9.83) to PHP537 (US$10.31).
