Partido ng Manggagawa chair Renato Magtubo wants an outright wage increase as well as a change in the current wage fixing mechanism.

Magtubo said they are also seeking a package of universal social protection programs that aim to lower households’ daily cost of living.

He also called for a safer workplace, freedom of association and an end to red-tagging and extrajudicial killings.

However, Magtubo said workers are not pinning much hope on the hype of the Marcos administration of a “golden era” for the country, particularly for workers.

“Never has there been a golden age for workers under any administration and neither will it be realized under BBM, or until full employment, a living wage, safe workplaces and a healthy environment are achieved,” he stressed.

“If Marcos Jr. simply goes on as business-as-usual during his first SONA, the rest of his six years will be the same over and over again, or even worse,” Magtubo added.

Kilusang Mayo Uno chair Elmer Labog said Marcos should address labor issues or face the workers’ rage.

“The entire country will be focused and anticipating what Junior (Marcos) will say about the (labor) crisis. This is because we haven’t heard of any plan to address this despite him being in position for almost a month now,” Labog said in Filipino.

“If Junior’s plan is to continue what (former president) Duterte started, he may as well say he plans on continuing the abuses and hardships workers have been facing,” Labog said.

Mayen Jaymalin