Business · Philippines Bureau
Labor advocates demand wage hikes as Philippine employment gains momentum
A leading labor coalition is pressing for higher compensation and better job quality even as the Philippines' employment figures show signs of improvement. The latest labor data revealed a notable increase in the number of employed workers last month.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA—Labor advocacy group Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) is calling for significant wage increases and improved working conditions amid recent gains in the Philippine labor market.
The August Labor Force Survey indicated the number of employed Filipinos climbed to 49.79 million from 49.21 million in July, while the unemployment rate edged downward during the same period. The monthly expansion in employment comes as the country continues its post-pandemic economic recovery.
Despite the positive employment trends, SENTRO has emphasized that statistical improvements alone do not reflect the actual conditions facing Filipino workers. The group contends that employment growth must be accompanied by genuine wage improvements and access to jobs offering adequate benefits and job security.
The labor organization's push for better compensation and working standards reflects broader concerns about wage stagnation and underemployment in the Philippines' labor market. SENTRO's position underscores the ongoing tension between headline employment gains and the quality of available work opportunities for the nation's workforce.