Labor group invokes Catholic social teaching to advocate for P150 wage hike and real wage recovery

Philippines Graphic
By Philippines Graphic
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In a plea for economic justice, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) is harnessing the Catholic Church’s social teachings to support their campaign for a P150 daily wage increase.

This legislative initiative seeks to rejuvenate the purchasing power of the workforce, thereby addressing the critical need for financial stability among workers, the FFW said.

Only workers in Metro Manila enjoy a little above poverty minimum wage. All the rest in the country have below poverty threshold minimum wage wage, the labor group added.

The FFW is renewing its appeal to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to endorse their advocacy for “workers to enjoy the fullness of life” in a pastoral letter or in their homilies, highlighting the principle that no worker committed to full-time work should suffer from the pangs of poverty.

“The phenomenon of the ‘working poor,’ who must undertake multiple jobs just to compile a semblance of a living wage, starkly infringes upon their right to family and a decent family life,” the FFW remarked.

The group further pointed out that “this reality flagrantly violates the core principles of dignity and fairness, pillars of Catholic social teaching. It is worth noting, however, that this issue is not universally recognized as a religious concern among many Catholics in the Philippines and elsewhere.”

Founded by Ateneo Valedictorian Juan C. Tan and Jesuit priest Walter B.Hogan in 1950, the FFW counters the prevalent argument against governmental laissez-faire attitudes—arguing that government intervention is vital when it’s necessary to protect and enhance the dignity and rights of workers, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their labor.

As the country enters Easter Sunday, the FFW stressed that the trade unions’ campaign for wage hike echoes the teachings of Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum, advocating for just wages. “This remains a foundational aspect of the Church’s social doctrine, championing the rights and dignity of the labor force.”

Instead of opposing, FFW calls on employers to remember “Rerum Novarum” and support wage hike. “Rerum Novarum articulates, as a matter of faith and morals, that workers deserve more than merely a living wage. Pope Leo XIII elaborated on the idea of ‘fair wages,’ which he defined as compensation that not only supports a basic lifestyle but also allows for savings towards a better future for workers and their families. This doctrine underscores the bitter truth that a significant portion of the global population is denied such fair wages.”

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Started in 1927, the Philippines Graphic is the longest-running printed magazine of national circulation that provides relevant news and features and promotes Philippine literature.

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