Majority of Filipino workers are forced to take sideline or second jobs to compensate for their inadequate income. According to a survey made by Kantay from February to April this year, 73% of Filipinos are looking for ways to improve their financial situation, usually by getting jobs on the side or setting up small businesses.

This situation of workers has been dubbed “hustle culture” which normalizes overworking and often causes adverse effects on the physical and mental health of workers. Working too much is being projected as an “admirable” to achieve “success.”

In the same Kantar group survey, which covered 2,000 families, 19% of families said they are “struggling” to make ends meet due to layoffs or reduced work hours that diminish their take home pay.

Jerome Adonis, Kilusang Mayo Uno chairperson and Makabayan senatorial candidate, said this situation proves that wages are so low that they no longer cover families’ expenses. He is pushing to increase the minimum wage to a living wage, from the current ₱645 per day in the National Capital Region, to ₱1,200.

“Workers are miserable in this arrangement. They can no longer rest properly,” said Adonis. “(They are) overworked but still underpaid.”

Adonis is running for the Senate on the platform of national democracy and immediate relief for the people. He advocates for workers’ rights and increased wages.