BAYAN Muna Panay acknowledges the recent wage increase in Western Visayas as a necessary yet modest step in addressing the financial strain felt by the region’s working class.
According to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board VI Wage Order No. RBVI-28 approved on October 22, starting November 17, 2024, workers in non-agriculture, industrial, and commercial sectors employing over 10 workers will receive a new minimum wage of P513, while those in smaller establishments will earn P485. Agricultural workers will see an increase to P480.
While we recognize this development, we firmly assert that the adjustments still fall short of the amount needed for workers and their families to afford dignified lives.
According to the United Labor Western Visayas petition, the current nominal wage of P480 is only equivalent to P368 in real value, failing to meet the basic needs of workers and their families. In Western Visayas, where the monthly poverty threshold for a family of five is P13,800, a worker earning a monthly wage of P10,560 (based on a daily minimum wage of P480 for 22 working days) remains inadequate.
Additionally, the 4.8% inflation rate (August 2024) has worsened the situation by reducing purchasing power and putting even more strain on households.
With the region’s food threshold at P9,650 per month for a family, a worker earning a monthly wage of P10,560 is left with only P910 for all other expenses after covering basic food needs.
The United Labor is proposing a daily wage of P63, which is significantly higher than the current wage and reflects their demand for a wage that better meets their needs. This amount is not just half of the minimum family living wage of P1,206, but rather a necessary adjustment to ensure that families can afford basic necessities and maintain a dignified standard of living amidst rising costs.
Since 1989, the government has failed to implement a single legislated wage increase, relying instead on the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) to manage these insufficient wage adjustments. This approach has been a deliberate strategy to weaken worker unity and avoid addressing the urgent need for a living wage that reflects the reality of rising costs. It is a profound injustice that workers are left to struggle with meager wages while the wealth of the elite continues to grow exponentially.
This wage increase, while helpful, still falls short of providing a dignified life to our hardworking laborers. Bayan Muna stands with the workers in demanding a higher, fairer wage that allows them to afford a life beyond mere survival. It is a fundamental right for workers to earn a living wage that matches the cost of living.
In solidarity with our labor sector, Bayan Muna Panay calls on government agencies, employers, and stakeholders to prioritize the welfare of workers, who are the backbone of our economy. While the current wage increase is a necessary step forward, it still falls significantly short of meeting even 50% of the family living wage. Therefore, it must be complemented by decisive actions, including a legislated wage hike of P100 or an increase in the national minimum wage to P1,200 per day. These measures are vital to ensure that workers in Western Visayas and across the nation can live dignified and fulfilling lives. – IRMA ESPINAS-ESPINOSA, Coordinator, Bayan Muna Panay <bm.panay@gmail.com>
