Workers seek PHP 250 wage hike before Labor Day

By Juliane Judilla

A day before Labor Day on May 1, workers’ groups led by the United Labor Alliance and Kilusang Mayo Uno-Panay staged a picket Thursday morning outside the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-6 office in Jaro, Iloilo City, during the filing of a wage increase petition on April 30.

The groups submitted a petition seeking a PHP 250 increase in the daily minimum wage across Western Visayas, citing rising inflation and the impact of recent oil price shocks, which they said have worsened workers’ economic conditions in the region.

“This morning, United Labor filed a petition demanding an increase of ₱250 for wage earners all over Western Visayas, citing the oil price shocks felt throughout the country as the main basis,” the group said.

The filing was accompanied by a protest action involving allied labor organizations, underscoring what they described as the urgency of government intervention.

Rising costs, stagnant wages

According to ULA, inflation in Western Visayas has been steadily increasing since September last year, with sharper spikes in recent months attributed to global oil price hikes linked to geopolitical tensions.

The group argued that the current regional minimum wage of PHP 550 is no longer sufficient, noting that it falls far below the estimated family living wage of PHP 1,030 calculated by IBON Foundation.

The National Wages and Productivity Commission lists the current daily minimum wage rates in Western Visayas at PHP 520 to PHP 550 under Wage Order No. RBVI-29, which took effect Nov. 19, 2025. 

ULA further claimed that the declining value of the peso has eroded real wages, estimating that the current minimum wage effectively amounts to only PHP 418 in purchasing power.

ULA also pointed out that since the implementation of the Wage Rationalization Act in 1989, which decentralized wage-setting to regional boards, real wages have seen little meaningful improvement.

The group noted that wages at the time, adjusted for inflation, were roughly equivalent to PHP 434 today.

Broader calls for reform

While the petition focuses on a regional wage increase, ULA emphasized that it forms part of a broader campaign for a national family living wage, which it pegged at PHP 1,200 per day.

The group reiterated its call for the abolition of regional wage boards and the establishment of a national minimum wage system.

It also urged workers to organize unions to strengthen collective bargaining efforts and push Congress to pass legislation mandating a nationwide wage floor.

The alliance likewise called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to act on workers’ demands through executive action, including the issuance of an order mandating wage increases.

Support for small businesses

In its statement, the group clarified that its campaign is not directed against small enterprises.

Instead, it proposed government support mechanisms such as wage subsidies and tax breaks for micro and small businesses, which it described as equally burdened by current economic conditions.

“This is not a fight between small businesses and workers,” they said.

“They should unite and call for substantial government action that benefits the Filipino people,” the group added.

Economic impact

Addressing concerns about the potential economic impact of wage hikes, ULA argued that increasing workers’ purchasing power would stimulate economic activity.

“Raising wages will invigorate the economy as workers and their families will be able to purchase more goods and services,” the group said.

The petition filing came as labor groups across the country prepared for Labor Day mobilizations, with wage increases and economic relief expected to be among the central demands.

ULA concluded its statement by emphasizing that the call for higher wages is ultimately about dignity and quality of life.

“The right to live is not merely the ability to breathe, it is about ensuring a dignified life for every Filipino worker,” the group said.