TUCP presses P200 wage hike, cites self-rated poverty survey

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Thursday called on Congress to “swiftly” approve the proposed P200 legislated wage hike after a new survey revealed that almost half of Filipino families consider themselves poor.

“When almost half of Filipino families openly acknowledge the harsh truth that they are poor, this is a national alarm bell that must jolt Congress into action,” said TUCP party list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza.

Mendoza authored House Bill No. 88 pushing for a P200 increase in the minimum wage of all workers in the private sector.

The Social Weather Stations (SWS), in a survey conducted June 25-29, found that nearly half, or 49 percent, Filipino families consider themselves poor.

This figure, which is one percentage point lower than the 50-percent recorded in an April survey, is around 13.7 million families.

‘True relief’

TUCP, the country’s largest confederation of labor groups with almost 500,000 members, noted that self-rated poverty in the country remained high despite the inflation rate easing to 0.9 percent in July from 1.4 percent in June, and the unemployment rate decreasing to 3.7 percent in June from 3.9 percent in May.

“Our countrymen would only feel true relief if their income is enough, so that they would not need to take on double or triple jobs in order to meet the daily needs of their families,” Mendoza said.

TUCP added that the findings of the survey confirm President Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address, where he stated that a booming economy, high business confidence, and more jobs “are just decorations, lacking any sense, if our countrymen continue to be poor and burdened in their lives.”

See Also

SSS to roll out yearly pension hike until 2027

Wages should be increased, Mendoza said, “not only above the poverty line, but toward living wages guaranteed by the Constitution through a legislated wage hike that must be certified as urgent by the President and passed by Congress now.”

Last failed attempts

Wage hike bills languished in the 19th Congress when the Senate and the House of Representatives adjourned sine die in June without reaching a compromise on the amount of the increase. The House then had approved a P200 wage hike while the Senate agreed to only P100.

It was the closest that the measure has progressed in Congress since 1989.

At least 17 bills proposing a legislated wage hike have already been filed at the House since the 20th Congress opened in July.