Following recent statements by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. about the Philippines’ ambitious target to achieve an 8% gross domestic product (GDP) growth, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) welcomes said aspiration but emphasizes the necessity for this growth to be inclusive, shared, and to substantially benefit the ordinary Filipino workers
FFW urged the Marcos administration and private sector leaders to not only strive for impressive GDP figures but to also ensure that the rewards of economic success are equitably distributed among all citizens.
The labor group added that the wage increase is more urgent in the wake of a further hike in fuel and food prices next week.
Labor organizations like the Partido ng Manggagawa, Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, national Federation of Labor, and other groups in the NAGKAISA Labor Coalition joined in the call, advocating for the implementation of a P150 daily wage on top of the minimum wage orders promulgated by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) as proposed by TUCP Party List in the House of Representatives.
LIVING WAGE
It is a step towards the establishment of a living wage that truly reflects the cost of living, ensuring that every Filipino worker can support a family, give food and nutrition to his or her children, and can lead a life of dignity, the groups stated.
“President Marcos Jr.’s optimism about reaching the 8% growth milestone is worth supporting. Indeed, as we plan for the nation’s economic future, our ambitions should be lofty,” stated FFW Vice President Jun Mendoza Ramirez. “However, it’s crucial that our economic plans include concrete measures to enhance the livelihood of our workers. Economic growth should translate into tangible benefits for them, such as fair wages and job security.”
In 2023, the Philippines outperformed several key Asian economies in terms of GDP growth, showcasing the nation’s potential to achieve even higher growth rates. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has recently highlighted the significance of surpassing the 6% growth rate to compete with more prosperous neighbors, pointing to the country’s “demographic sweet spot” as a key factor in realizing this ambition.
Echoing NEDA’s sentiment, FFW said that leveraging the demographic advantage should coincide with ensuring that workers have decent jobs and are adequately compensated, having access to opportunities that improve their standard of living.
COMPARATIVE COUNTRY WAGES
Comparing the country’s wages to that of Jakarta, Indonesia (PhP700+) and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (PhP800), Ramirez stressed that the two countries’ wages are higher than that of the Philippines (PhP610), adding that based on their reading: “NEDA favors stagnant wages for the Philippines.”
Ramirez, who is also the union president of the Vishay Phils Inc Employees Union-FFW based in Taguig City, further urged: “Let’s not just aim for high Gross National Product (GNP) or high GDP, but also for qualitative enhancements in the lives of our citizens,” urged
“Halos every week may fuel hike, may pagtaas sa presyo ng bigas at mga bilihin [Almost every week there is a fuel hike and a rise in the prices of rice and other prime commodities], but for 35 years we have had a stagnant minimum wage. Let Congress pass the Php150 wage hike across the country in time for Labor Day. FFW holds that an economy that grows at the expense of underpaid and undervalued workers is not sustainable,” said Ramirez.
