Former Rebels, Unionists Weigh In on DOLE’s ‘Historic’ ₱85 Wage Hike

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has announced an ₱85 daily wage increase for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila, describing it as the largest wage adjustment ever approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR).

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said around 1.1 million minimum wage workers are expected to benefit from the increase, which raises the daily minimum wage from ₱695 to ₱780 for non-agricultural workers. Employees in agriculture, retail and service establishments with 15 or fewer workers, and small manufacturing firms will see their daily wage increase from ₱658 to ₱743.

The wage adjustment will be implemented in two phases: a ₱60 increase beginning July 19, 2026, followed by an additional ₱25 in January 2027.

While labor officials hailed the adjustment as a significant step toward improving workers’ welfare, the announcement immediately drew mixed reactions from workers, employers, ordinary netizens, and national democratic organizations.

FR perspective

For former rebels who spent years organizing in labor and peasant communities, the issue is not as simple as choosing between government praise and leftist rejection.

Kalai, a former trade union organizer of the CPP for four years before deciding to join the NPA, said the wage hike should be seen both as immediate relief and as a reminder of how much workers still need.

“Hindi natin puwedeng sabihin na walang halaga ang ₱85. Para sa manggagawa, bawat dagdag sa arawang sahod ay may katumbas na pagkain, pamasahe, o bayarin sa bahay,” Kalai said. “Pero hindi rin natin puwedeng sabihing sapat na ito, lalo na kung ang presyo ng bilihin, renta, kuryente, tubig, pamasahe, gamot, at gastos sa eskwela ay patuloy na tumataas.”

The wage adjustment will come in two phases: ₱60 beginning July 19, 2026, and another ₱25 in January 2027. For Jerson, an organizer of agricultural workers in Mindanao, this is one reason many workers remain unconvinced.

“Sa manggagawa, hindi naman hulugan ang gutom. Hindi hulugan ang bayarin. Kung delayed ang dagdag-sahod, delayed din ang ginhawa,” he said.

Organizations such as the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Defend Jobs Philippines, Bayan, and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) were quick to describe the increase as “grossly inadequate.” They argue that the new minimum wage remains far below the estimated family living wage computed by advocacy groups. They also criticized the staggered implementation, saying workers continue to face rising costs of basic needs.

Kalai said she understands why workers and labor groups continue to demand more, but she also warned that labor issues have long been used by the national democratic movement as organizing and recruitment openings.

“Sa loob ng kilusan, ang sahod, kontraktwalisasyon, kawalan ng lupa, at kahirapan ay hindi lang pinag-uusapan bilang problema ng manggagawa at magsasaka,” he said. “Ginagamit din ang mga ito bilang entry point sa pag-oorganisa. Mula hinaing sa sahod, papasok ang pampulitikang edukasyon. Mula pampulitikang edukasyon, papasok ang mas malalim na commitment sa linya ng Partido.”

To Jerson, this does not mean that workers should stop fighting for better wages or stronger labor protection. Rather, he said workers should be careful not to let their legitimate grievances be used to push them toward underground work or armed struggle. Jerson was once a worker and unionist in a banana plantation before joining the NPA himself.

“Karapatan ng manggagawa ang lumaban para sa mas mataas na sahod. Karapatan nilang mag-unyon. Karapatan nilang singilin ang gobyerno at employer,” he said. “Pero hindi dapat gawing tulay ang galit ng manggagawa para dalhin sila sa armadong pakikibaka. Hindi lahat ng maka-manggagawa ay kailangang sumunod sa balangkas ng CPP.”

Opposing reactions

The criticisms against the ₱85 wage increase also generated opposing reactions online.

Many workers and ordinary netizens agreed that the adjustment remains insufficient given the continuing rise in the cost of living. Several social media users echoed concerns that the increase would have only limited impact on household expenses, especially for families living paycheck to paycheck.

On the other hand, business owners, economic observers, and pro-government commentators argued that while workers deserve higher wages, demands for an immediate ₱1,200 nationwide minimum wage could place a heavy burden on micro, small, and medium enterprises, potentially leading to reduced hiring, business closures, or layoffs.

Some government supporters also questioned the predictable rejection of the wage order by ND-aligned organizations, saying these groups have consistently opposed government labor policies regardless of the amount approved. They argued that wage increases should be balanced with measures that protect jobs, sustain businesses, and prevent further inflation.

Kalai said both concerns should be part of the discussion.

“Kung manggagawa ang tatanungin, natural lang na kulang ang ₱85 dahil kulang talaga ang kita sa taas ng presyo ngayon,” she said. “Pero kung seryoso tayo sa solusyon, kailangang pag-usapan din kung paano itataas ang sahod nang hindi tinutulak sa pagsasara ang maliliit na negosyo. Kapag nagsara ang negosyo, manggagawa rin ang unang tatamaan.”

She also added that the government should not rely on the wage hike alone to answer workers’ concerns.

“Kung gusto ng gobyerno na maramdaman ng manggagawa ang tunay na ginhawa, hindi sahod lang ang dapat tingnan,” Kalai said. “Kailangan ding tutukan ang presyo ng pagkain, pamasahe, pabahay, serbisyo, trabaho, at proteksyon laban sa pang-aabuso sa paggawa.”

Genuine unionism

Jerson said unionism also remains necessary for workers, especially in workplaces where employees have little bargaining power against management.

“Kailangan ng unyon ng mga manggagawa. Hindi dapat masama ang tingin sa unyonismo dahil ito ang legal at demokratikong paraan para maipaglaban ang sahod, benepisyo, seguridad sa trabaho, at makataong kondisyon sa paggawa,” Jerson said. “Ang problema ay kapag ang unyon ay hindi na nakasentro sa kapakanan ng manggagawa, kundi ginagamit na bilang instrumento ng pambansa-demokratikong [ND] kilusan.”

He said the government should support genuine unionism while being more discerning toward labor organizing led by ND-aligned federations, which, based on his experience, often pushed workplace disputes beyond negotiation in order to sharpen class conflict.

“May mga pederasyon na ang tunay na layunin ay hindi lang makakuha ng maayos na collective bargaining agreement o benepisyo para sa manggagawa,” Jerson said. “Itinutulak nila ang employer sa sukdulan para lumala ang kontradiksyon sa pagitan ng manggagawa at kapitalista. Kapag tumindi ang galit, mas madaling ipasok ang linya ng Partido. Kaya dapat suportahan ng gobyerno ang tunay na unyonismo, pero maging maingat sa unyonismong ginagamit para sa underground recruitment at pagpapalalim ng tunggalian.”

Keep struggle grounded

The latest wage order highlights the continuing debate between calls for substantially higher wages to address rising living costs and concerns over the possible economic impact of large mandatory wage increases.

For Jerson, the more difficult task is to keep the labor struggle grounded in workers’ real needs, without allowing it to be reduced either to government self-congratulation or to CPP propaganda.

“Puwedeng kilalanin ang dagdag-sahod bilang tulong, pero puwede ring sabihing kulang pa ito,” he said. “Hindi kailangang pumili sa pagitan ng pagiging sunod-sunuran sa gobyerno at pagiging sunod-sunuran sa Partido. Ang dapat sentro ay manggagawa.”

DOLE, for its part, maintained that the adjustment was reached after consultations among labor, employer, and government representatives under the country’s tripartite wage-setting process.