Labor group seeks PHP 100–PHP 200 daily wage hike

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — The General Alliance of Workers’ Association (GAWA) has called on the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)–Western Visayas to approve a wage increase of PHP 100–PHP 200 per day, citing the continued erosion of workers’ purchasing power due to inflation.

In a position paper submitted to the wage board Wednesday, GAWA President Wennie Sancho said the current minimum wage is no longer sufficient to sustain a decent standard of living for workers and their families, with inflation having severely reduced the real value of their income.

“The cumulative inflation rate from 2018 to 2024 has resulted in a significant decrease in the purchasing power of workers’ wages,” Sancho said.

“A wage hike is necessary to restore the capacity of workers to meet their basic needs,” he added.

According to the labor group, even with previous adjustments, the existing wage levels in Western Visayas fail to bring back the real value of wages to 2018 levels.

The proposed PHP 100–PHP 200 increase, they said, would help partially restore workers’ purchasing power and improve their quality of life.

GAWA also urged the wage board to index wages to inflation, ensuring that future increases automatically adjust with the rising cost of living.

In addition, the group recommended providing housing, education, and healthcare support to enhance workers’ overall well-being.

“We appeal to policymakers and stakeholders to take immediate action,” Sancho added.

“Restoring workers’ purchasing power is not only a matter of social justice—it is essential to sustaining economic growth in Western Visayas,” he said.

Under the Wage Rationalization Act, regional wage boards like RTWPB–Western Visayas set and adjust minimum wages based on economic indicators, petitions, and public consultations to balance worker welfare and business viability.

The position paper emphasized that addressing wage erosion is vital to maintaining productivity and stability among the region’s workforce.