MANILA – Labor groups and senatorial candidates from the labor sector mark Labor Day with a rally at the Plaza Miranda in Manila to call for a wage hike and living wages amid rising cost of commodities.

They said the P20/kilo rice option launched by the government in Visayas on Thursday and the four-day free train rides ordered by the President are not enough to cushion the impact of inflation. 

“Mga palliative! Ang kailangan natin long term at saka permanent na solusyon. Tanungin mo ang masang Pilipino kung gusto nila ng ayuda. Hindi nila gusto ang ayuda. Napipilitan lang sila tumanggap dahil sa desperasyon. Gusto nila ng kabuhayan,” senatorial candidate and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino President Atty. Luke Espiritu said.

 P20/kilo rice officially sold in the Visayas

“Sobrang taas na ng presyo ng bilihin, ng inflation… 15.5 million na pamilya ang nagsasabi na sila ay mahirap. Kaya dapat nang icertify as urgent ang kahilingan ng manggagawa, matagal na, sa pagtataas ng sahod,” another labor leader and senatorial candidate Ka Leody De Guzman added.

He is referring to the P200 proposed legislated daily minimum wage hike, which was approved on 2nd reading by the House of Representatives last February. At the Senate, the proposed P100 increase in daily minimum wage was approved on third and final reading.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Thursday said there is a need for careful study of the proposed legislated increase in wages, citing its impact to businesses and the economy.

Espiritu warned that if the President does not support the measure, it could lead to further drop in his approval ratings. 

“If he doesn’t adopt that popular measure, nanganganib na siya ay maging most unpopular president sa bansa sa history, if hindi niya didinggin ang hinaing at iginigiit ng manggagawa,” he said.

 As elections and Labor Day draw near, workers call for salary increase, pro-worker reforms

Baka makaantig sa kanya ‘yung malaking pagkilos ngayong Mayo 1 ng mga manggagawa. Baka ito ay makatulong para ma-pressure siya at dinggin na niya ang kahilingan ng manggagawa na itaas talaga ang sahod,” De Guzman added.

Kilusang Mayo Uno, a group of labor groups and unions, also flooded the streets as they celebrate their organization's 45th anniversary coinciding with the Labor Day. They urged the government to prioritize upholding labor and union rights, as well as hear workers' demand for better minimum wage.

However, KMU protesters clashed at one point with the Anti-Riot Police of the Manila Police District Command as the former marched they way to Mendiola.

KMU Secretary General and senatorial candidate Jerome Adonis were present at the incident. He claimed police officers allegedly committed a violation against workers' right to express their grievances and call for job security.

Espiritu meanwhile urged workers in the country to support senatorial candidates form the labor sector, who will push for their interests, instead of members of political dynasties.

Wage hike up to regional wage boards, Palace says as TUCP bats for P200 hike

 “Ating dinadala ang labor movement bilang alternatibo sa dinastiya… Hindi nila sosolusyunan ang mga problema natin. Ang labor leaders nagsama-sama para i-consolidate ang labor vote. Ang manggagawa natin nasa 40 million… Kung mabigay ang mensahe sa manggagawa na bumoto base sa interes at hindi sa interes ng dinastiya at trapo, then we become a significant player in politics. Hindi nalang kasamaan at kadiliman ang magcocontest ng political power,” he said. -- with a report from Ched Rick Gatchalian, ABS-CBN News