𝗨𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗣𝟭,𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘄!

𝘓𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 2025

 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 (𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘗𝘌𝘎)

 𝘔𝘢𝘺 1, 2025

On this historic Labor Day, the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) joins workers across the Philippines in demanding long-overdue reforms that uphold the dignity, rights, and welfare of the Filipino labor force. We call on the government, legislators, and employers to immediately address the twin injustices of poverty wages and rampant contractualization.

Despite being hailed as the backbone of the economy, millions of workers continue to endure poverty wages, precarious work conditions, and systematic denial of benefits. Current minimum wages fall far short of what is needed for a decent and dignified life. Based on current estimates, a P1,200 daily family living wage is the minimum required for a household of five to meet basic needs such as food, housing, education, and health. Anything less perpetuates hunger, inequality, and social injustice.

Equally urgent is the need to abolish labor contractualization. The widespread use of short-term and agency-based employment undermines job security, union rights, and fair compensation. This system, sustained by corporate greed and weak enforcement of labor laws, must end. Workers deserve regular, stable, and rights-based employment—not the exploitative "endo" schemes that treat them as disposable.

CenPEG stands in solidarity with the labor movement in its call for:

• A legislated national minimum wage based on a P1,200 family living wage, indexed to inflation and regional cost variations.

• A total ban on labor-only contracting and immediate regularization of long-term workers.

• Strengthened enforcement of labor standards and support for independent labor organizing.

• Democratic reforms that empower working people to actively shape economic and political policies.

This Labor Day, we reaffirm our commitment to building a just, inclusive, and democratic society—one that puts people over profit and ensures that no worker is left behind.