Wage earners need at least P4,227 more a month — labor group

The minimum wage in the Philippines needs to be increased by at least P4,227 a month for workers to live above the poverty level, a labor group said on Friday.

Associated Labor Unions (ALU) Spokesperson Alan Tanjusay noted daily minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region need P4,227.58 more in a month, while workers outside Metro Manila need P6,000 more in a month for them to live above the poverty level.

"This only show that majority of workers in the country remain poor. This shows that the gap between the elite few and millions of poor are still very, very wide," Tanjusay said in an emailed statement.

"Poor workers are getting poorer and they are being left behind by a growing economy they helped grow,” he added.

Citing data from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the association said the national standard amount required for a family of five to survive in a month is P12,517, or P417.23 a day.

NEDA earlier said that under current conditions in the country, a simple and comfortable life would entail a gross monthly income of P120,000 per family of four.

ALS noted, however, that data from the central bank indicated that a P491 daily minimum wage was equivalent to a buying power of P367.17 a day or P9,546.42 a month in the NCR.

The group also said the average purchasing power of the daily minimum wage in cities and municipalities outside the NCR is P250.67 a day or P6,517.42 a month. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News