The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) has criticized the recent wage increase for private sector workers in Metro Manila.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board announced an increase of PHP 35 (USD 0.60), which the ICHRP has labeled insufficient.
“The wage hike is not even enough to buy a kilo of rice,” said Peter Murphy, Chairperson of the ICHRP Global Council.
He described the wage adjustment as a “grave insult” to workers facing high prices for basic commodities in the Philippines.
The Department of Labor and Employment stated that the new wage order, Wage Order No. NCR-25, will take effect on July 17.
It raises the daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region (NCR) for non-agricultural workers from PHP 610 (USD 10.37) to PHP 645 (USD 10.96), and for agricultural, service, and retail workers employing up to 15 individuals, and small manufacturing businesses, from PHP 573 (USD 9.74) to PHP 608 (USD 10.33).
Murphy criticized the increase as lower than last year’s PHP 40 hike and dismissed the government’s response to the workers’ demand for a PHP 1,207 minimum wage.
He accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of not genuinely improving Filipino workers’ standard of living.
The ICHRP expressed support for the call from labor groups to dissolve regional wage boards and to establish a law for a national minimum wage increase for all private sector workers.
