Thousands of workers, together with the youth and other democratic sectors, marched to Mendiola in Manila this Labor Day. Before they could arrive, they were blocked by barricaded police in front of the University of the East on Recto.

Led by Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), the workers called for living wages across the country.

The minimum wage should be raised to a living level of ₱1,200 to adapt to the rising cost of living and decades of stagnant wage increases, according to KMU. Currently, workers receive only 36% to 54% of what they need. They are calling to abolish the regional wage boards that grant only meager increases and for the implementation of a national wage.

“A living wage of ₱1,200 for a family is necessary to ensure that workers earn enough for food, housing, medicine, and transportation,” according to KMU.

The workers are also calling to end contractualization and uphold union rights, including the right to organize and to negotiate collective bargaining agreements.

In Cebu, AMA Sugbo and Partido Lakas Masa led the protest, while KMU-Cordillera organized the rally in Baguio City. Workers in Panay, Bicol, Laguna, Cavite, Bacolod, Pampanga, Davao, and Iligan launched similar actions.

Alongside Labor Day, KMU is also celebrating its 45th anniversary. “We will continue to fight for a living wage, job security, and stronger union rights until our demands are met,” the group vowed.

Meanwhile, the Marcos regime can only respond with a “study” of the ₱200 wage increase demand presented by the National Wage Coalition (NWC), a broad alliance of various labor groups. The call for a ₱200 across-the-board increase began after Marcos granted a ₱200 daily allowance increase to soldiers and police.

“[Our] call for President Marcos [is] to lead from the front, not behind recycled directives to defective regional wage boards,” according to the NWC unified statement. If implemented, the ₱200 wage increase would be a historic first-ever legislated wage hike in the past 36 years.

Aside from KMU, the NWC is composed of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines. Nagkaisa includes the Federation of Free Workers, Partido Manggagawa, Alliance of Progressive Labor, and Public Services Labor Independent Confederation.