Thousands of Filipino workers will conduct noise barrages to push for the enactment of a P1,200 family wage nationwide after more than 30 organizations representing workers from the private, public, agriculture, electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, education, health, business process outsourcing (BPO), informal and migrant sectors pledged to pursue the campaign in a press briefing in Manila on April 24, 2025.
The organizations also unveiled their unified Labor Agenda that showcased major reforms on wages, prices, contractualization and union rights. Moreover, they committed to mobilize millions of Filipino workers to support the candidates belonging to the worker and farmer sectors who are vying for electoral positions in the May 12, 2025 midterm elections.
“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 Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Secretary General Jerome Adonis, who is also a senatorial candidate under the Makabayan Coalition. Adonis said the Agenda demands the implementation of the P1,200 family living wage nationwide after decades of failed wage-setting by the Regional Wage Boards (RWBs) and the inutility of the administration to temper the skyrocketing prices of goods services that have eroded the value of workers’ wages.
“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. The Agenda also championed the protection of labor rights, social services, climate, gender, fundamental economic reforms and the elimination of graft and largescale corruption in the government bureaucracy.
KMU has vowed to continue fighting for these policy agenda even beyond the elections. The national trade union center explained that achieving worthwhile changes on the labor front relies on the collective effort of all workers to assert their rights and demand improvement on their working and living conditions. “Ngayong Mayo Uno, huwag nating hayaang mag-tengang kawali pa ang nasa Malacanang! Padagundungin natin ang ating sigaw: nakabubuhay na sahod, ipaglaban! P1200 nationwide!” Adonis concluded.
On April 25, All Workers Unity (AWU) and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) will hold simultaneous “kalampagan” protests to amplify calls for a P1,200 living wage for all Filipino workers. On the same day, Bayan and AWU will conduct the “kalampagan” from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the National Housing Authority (NHA) in Quezon Memorial Circle and at Espana Boulevard, near M. de la Fuente and Vicente Cruz Sts. The protests will continue daily, with the AWU member-organizations conducting “kalampagan” in their work places, residences and offices that will culminate with the mobilization for the Labor Day rallies in the National Capital Region (NCR) and major cities and towns in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The KMU, COURAGE, Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), Piston, KILOS NA Manggagawa, Defend Jobs Philippines, Migrante International, Migrante Philippines, Kadamay, Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan (KMK), Alliance of Health Workers (AHW), Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN) comprise AWU.
In a separate press briefing on April 25, AWU and Bayan said workers will continue to demand the following: Junk wage rationalization; reduce the prices of basic goods and utilities; set a national minimum wage at par with living wage standards; end contractualization in the public and private sectors; upholding occupational safety and health standards; respect of the right to freedom of association; scrap all exploitative impositions by the US; convict Sara Duterte and Rodrigo Duterte for all their crimes, and; hold Bongbong Marcos accountable for misuse of the national budget and the continuing human rights abuses, including the harassment of labor organizers and union leaders. (DIEGO MORRA)
