Jinggoy calls for wage hike on Labor Day

MANILA, Philippines — UniTeam senatorial candidate Jinggoy Estrada has called for a wage increase in the provinces, as the country celebrates Labor Day today. The returning senator specifically urged regional wage boards to immediately approve wage hike petitions, citing the need to increase salaries of workers amid the soaring prices of fuel, food and consumer goods.

“It’s been more than a month since I joined the workers’ clamor for a wage increase. What’s taking the wage boards so long to approve it?” Estrada argued.

The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino president lamented that the unabated increase in fuel prices has exacerbated the financial burden of Filipino workers.

“To honor Filipino workers this Labor Day, I think a wage hike is well-deserved and well-timed. It’s the best gift we can give our workers and their families,” Estrada stressed.

“Even before the pandemic, the average minimum wage of workers is already insufficient to make ends meet. With the spike in global crude oil and food prices due to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the low take home pay of workers has been a critical problem,” he noted.

If elected on May 9, Estrada said he will introduce reforms to the Wage Rationalization Act, which placed the responsibility of setting the minimum wage with the 17 regional wage boards.

“The national government should have more flexibility in adjusting the basic pay of ordinary workers, especially in times of crises or emergencies,” he argued.

As former chairman of the Senate labor committee, Estrada has long advocated for the improvement of the welfare of wage earners. He said the practice of setting minimum wages is absurd since it has consistently failed to keep up with inflation.

“Government must ensure that Filipinos earn enough to have a decent life and prevent their mass migration in search of better pay,” he added.