House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep.-elect Antonio Tinio strongly criticized the Marcos administration’s contradictory stance on workers’ welfare, as the President’s economic team signals opposition to the P200 legislated wage hike while simultaneously dismissing reports that the Philippines ranks among the world’s worst countries for workers.
“Ang kahibangan ng administrasyong ito ay walang kapantay. Sinasabi nilang walang basehan ang ranking na isa sa pinakamahirap na bansa para sa mga manggagawa ang Pilipinas, pero ayaw naman nilang aprubahan ang P200 wage hike na matagal nang hinihintay ng ating mga kababayan,” Castro said.
The lawmakers pointed out the glaring inconsistency in President Marcos Jr.’s position, as his administration continues to resist meaningful wage increases while claiming that international assessments of poor working conditions in the Philippines are unfounded.
“How can this administration claim that the Philippines is not among the worst countries for workers when they themselves are blocking a legislated wage increase that would provide much-needed relief to millions of Filipino families struggling with rising costs of living?” Tinio stated.
Castro emphasized that the P200 wage hike would not even cover the bare minimum needed to address the deteriorating purchasing power of Filipino workers amid persistent inflation and economic hardship.
“Ang P200 na dagdag-sahod ay hindi pa sapat para sa pang-araw-araw na gastusin ng isang pamilyang Pilipino. Pero kahit ito na nga lang, ayaw pa ring ibigay ng gobyerno. Paano nila masasabing hindi totoo ang mga ulat na mahirap ang kalagayan ng mga manggagawa dito sa bansa?” she said.
The ACT Teachers representatives called on the Senate to stand firm on the P200 wage increase and resist pressure from the executive branch to water down the measure to a mere P100 increase.
“We urge our colleagues in the Senate not to capitulate to the administration’s anti-worker agenda. The Filipino people deserve better than empty promises and half-measures. They deserve a living wage that reflects the true value of their labor and contributions to our economy,” Tinio concluded.
The lawmakers vowed to continue fighting for the passage of the full P200 wage increase, calling it a matter of basic justice for Filipino workers who have long been denied their fair share of the country’s economic progress. #
