Sugarcane workers in Bacolod demand overhaul of benefits, piece-rate system

Sugarcane workers gathered outside the Department of Labor and Employment regional office in Bacolod City on Thursday to demand sweeping changes to worker protections and compensation structures. The protest centered on calls to reform the Social Amelioration Program and abolish the "pakyaw" system, a piece-rate payment method that workers argue leaves them vulnerable to unstable earnings and inadequate benefits.

The demonstration reflects growing labor unrest within the Philippine sugar industry, which has faced significant economic headwinds in recent years. Workers contend that current payment arrangements fail to provide adequate social safety nets, leaving families without sufficient protection during economic downturns or personal hardship.

The National Federation of Sugar workers led the action, signaling broader discontent within the sector over compensation practices and government support mechanisms. Labor advocates have long criticized piece-rate systems as exploitative, arguing they shift financial risk entirely onto workers while limiting access to standard employment benefits and protections.

The protest underscores mounting pressure on policymakers to address labor conditions in the sugar industry, a significant contributor to the Philippine economy. Workers' demands come as the sector navigates commodity price volatility and structural challenges that have strained both employers and the workforce.