Labor groups scored the government for declaring more long weekends on public holiday list for 2023 instead of giving workers additional pay amid the rising cost of living.
In a statement issued last Thursday, labor coalition Nagkaisa questioned the soundness of the decision of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. to revive the “holiday economics” in his Proclamation No 90 to help boost the economy.
Partido Manggagawa (PM) Chair and Nagkaisa spokesperson Renato Magtubo most workers are unlikely to benefit from the new long weekends under the new issuance since they barely have enough income to make ends meet.
“The most pressing concern of the working class today is their capacity to spend above their basic needs, thus, poverty wages would prevent them from enjoying holiday economics,” Magtubo said.
Under Proclamation 90, Jan. 2, which is a Monday, will be declared as an additional special (non-working) holiday.
Meanwhile, it transferred the regular holidays for the commemorations of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) and the Bonifacio Day to the nearest Mondays of the said events.
The adjustments aim to create more long weekends next year “to encourage domestic travel and help increase tourism expenditure in the country.”
Magtubo said a wage hike would more effectively help increase spending and generate more economic activity.
“If President Marcos really wanted to perk up the economy, he should join workers in asking Congress to legislate a wage hike as well as establish a robust public employment program to shore up the income of every Filipino,” Magtubo said.
Nagkaisa also called out the government for “commercializing” important national holidays.
“Like Labor Day, Araw ng Kagitingan and Bonifacio day are significant days dear to workers and the trade union movement is committed to commemorate the struggles on their historical dates and not on the revised commercialized dates dictated by holiday economics,” Nagkaisa chair and Federation of Free Workers (FFW) President Sonny Matula said.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza