Thousands of workers are expected to mark Bonifacio Day on Wednesday with a nationwide protest to demand President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. to address low wages, rampant contractualization and worker rights violation.
In a joint press conference last Tuesday, leaders of the Nagkaisa and Paggawa, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and other labor groups said they decided to hold a united Bonifacio Day protest due to Marcos’ apparent “silence” when it comes to his labor policies.
“As we can recall, even during his SONA (State of the Nation Address), Marcos Jr. did not mention anything about the wishes and complaints of Filipino workers. It is already five months since he got elected and still he has yet to disclose his stand on wage hike and other labor-related issues,” Kilusang Mayo Uno chair Elmer Labog.
United front
The group scored Marcos for failing to act on their demand to hike minimum wage rate by P100 to allow them to cope with the rising cost of living as well as the abolition of the regional wage boards.
They also noted the administration neglected to come out with any policy to scrap contractualization and trade union repression.
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) President Luke Espiritu expressed concern on how labor organizing in being considered as “terrorist activities” by authorities.
“Now talks about regularization, unionism, and low wages, have now become a national security concern. So what will workers do in response to inflation and this crisis if their hands will be tied,” Espiritu said.
The labor leaders said they are hoping their massive joint demonstration nationwide on Wednesday, where an expected 30,000 workers are expected to join, will finally call the attention of Marcos on their concerns.
A large portion of the said contingent will be in the National Capital Region.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza