Wage hike, stable jobs more urgent amid skyrocketing prices

“Amid the fireworks of skyrocketing prices that continue to hit us at this start of the year, increasing wages and protecting job security becomes more urgent and necessary,” Kilusang Mayo Uno executive vice chairperson Joselito Ustarez said today.

“Everything is rising except our wages. Many do not even have stable source of wages due to the proliferation of irregular and contractual jobs. How can we survive?” Ustarez expressed.

KMU noted that the daily cost of living in Metro Manila, for example, was already at P957 last year, which is P553 higher than the minimum wage of P404. The case is worse for other regions. 

“After all the price hikes, and the more to come, current wage levels indeed can never sustain us anymore. It is high time that a susbtantial nation-wide increase be enacted as a law,” Ustarez said.

“Stable source of livelihood should also be guaranteed to our workers. Predominant schemes that allow contractual, irregular, and highly unsecure employment should be stopped. Lack of job security only makes people more vulnerable to the attack of price spikes.” #