Labor group seeks P320 pay hike for Metro Manila workers

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s largest labor group yesterday sought a P320 across-the-board increase in the daily take-home pay of workers in Metro Manila to help them cope with the rising prices of basic commodities and services.

In a three-page petition for wage increase, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) asked the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) to increase the minimum pay in the National Capital Region from P512 to P832.

“This will help restore the purchasing power of workers and to cover further increases in the prices of basic goods,” the TUCP said.

The group said the P832 daily minimum pay is a “survival wage” in Metro Manila given the soaring costs of essential commodities due to the implementation of the TRAIN  or Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

Raymond Mendoza, TUCP president, said the existing P512 daily minimum wage in Metro Manila is not enough for a household with at least five members to survive.

National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Ernesto Pernia earlier declared that a family of five needs at least P42,000 monthly income or P1,400 daily to live decently.

TUCP vice president Manuel Corral said the pay hike they were asking is way below P42,000.

“The P512 daily wage translates to P449.91, an erosion of about P62 as of March as should be recovered by the workers,” the group said.

Corral said the Duterte administration should lead the campaign against poverty by addressing the problem of inflation and the lack of jobs for Filipino workers.