Workers seek Church help on wage hike

MANILA, Philippines — The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) is seeking the intervention of the Catholic Church for immediate passage of the pending P150 legislated nationwide wage hike.

It appealed to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines yesterday to endorse the wage increase for all workers nationwide and to issue a pastoral letter highlighting the principle that no full-time worker should suffer from poverty and that they should enjoy the “fullness of life.”

According to FFW, the proposed P150 legislated wage hike aims to “rejuvenate the purchasing power” of workers and address the critical need for financial stability.

It noted that only workers in Metro Manila are enjoying a daily pay slightly above the poverty minimum wage. Minimum wage rates in the rest of the regions are below the poverty threshold.