Workers at a shoe factory in Barangay Concepcion in Marikina City perform different tasks in making footwear products on September 27, 2023.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA — Over 30 labor groups and organizations met on Thursday, April 24, at a press conference led by trade union Kilusang Mayo Uno.

The attendees came from various sectors like private, public, agriculture, electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, education, health, BPO, informal, and migrant to convene under the Labor Vote and present their "Labor Agenda".

This entails calls for better living wages, decrease in prices of commodities, end of contractualization, and upholding of union rights.

Senate bet pushes for P1,200 daily min wage; calls out businessmen’s 'bluff'

The groups are seeking the implementation of a family living wage at P1,200, as they pointed out the supposed "decades of failed wage-setting by the Regional Wage Boards" and the high prices of goods in the market, which they claimed had eroded the value of workers' salaries. 

“Tinulak ng matagal na pamamayagpag ng bulok na pamamahala ang pagbubuo ng Labor Vote. Ang pagsuporta dito ng malawak na hanay ng mga manggagawa ay patunay na sawa na ang mga manggagawa sa mga polisiyang nagpapahirap sa amin kapalit ng tubo ng iilan,” said KMU Secretary General and senatorial candidate Jerome Adonis. 

“Karapatan ng bawat manggagawa ang nakabubuhay na sahod. At tanging ang mga tunay na representante nila ang lalaban para makamtan ito.  Nararapat lang na singilin ito ng mga manggagawa sa mga nakaupo at nag-aasam na umupo sa gobyerno,” added Adonis.

KMU said accomplishing their Labor Agenda would need the collective effort of workers to assert "protection of labor rights, social services, climate, gender, fundamental economic reforms, and an end to corruption in the government."

As Labor Day and the midterm elections draw near, the trade union challenged the Marcos Jr. administration to hear their request on pro-worker's reforms and higher wage.

Wage hike up to regional wage boards, Palace says as TUCP bats for P200 hike

To amplify their appeals, KMU and other progressive organizations also announced a mobilization on Friday, April 25. They will hold a protest from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at National Housing Authority in Quezon Memorial Circle and Espana Boulevard in Manila.

Earlier in April, Malacañang said regional wage board across the country have been reviewing petition for wage hikes following another labor group's request to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent a bill seeking to increase workers’ pay by at least P200.

The president mentioned the measure needs further study as some expressed concern that it may lead to job cuts to maintain businesses' profit margins.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) noted earlier this year that pushing or opposing wage hike is not part of its mandate. It said it would leave the discretion to lawmakers.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, meanwhile, has called on lawmakers to study first the impact of wage hikes "on all sectors" before implementing them.

Data from DOLE showed that 14 regions saw an increase in wages benefitting some 4.9 million minimum wage earners in the private sector in December 2024.

As of 2024, the minimum daily wage in Metro Manila is at P645, while other regions saw their daily wages increase by P21 to P75.