Metro Manila minimum wage earners lament P537 daily wage

Metro Manila's minimum wage earners are feeling the inadequacy of their salaries amid soaring basic commodity prices.

In Jonathan Andal's Sunday "24 Oras Weekend" report, Quezon City supermarket merchandiser RJ said that he could barely make ends meet with his P537 daily salary, despite being single.

He spends about P100 a day on food and contributes to the P3,000/month his family spends on utilities and rice.

"Dati nakakabili ka ng P35, maganda na ang bigas. Ngayon P45, may bukbuk pa," lamented RJ.

Fortunately for RJ, he is spared from spending P70/day on public transportation. He managed to buy a second-hand bicycle for P2,500, which he pays for in installments.

Nevertheless, savings were impossible for RJ.

"Wala pa talagang ipon. Kahit ganoon ang sinasahod, kinakapos pa rin talaga," he explained.

"Pinipilit pagkasyahin. Kahit wala pa akong asawa, siyempre, nagbibigay ako sa pamilya ko."

Security guard Christopher was also having difficulty with his daily wage, especially with a wife and child to support.

He has to pay rent, utilities, and an internet connection for his child's distance learning classes.

He also has to pay installments on the P1,200 half-sack of rice each month.

To make ends meet, Christopher eats leftovers from last night's diner at work.

He also supplements his salary by working as a motorcycle taxi driver after his 12-hour shift as a guard.

"Para dagdag sa budget, kasi kinakapos. Pag asahan lang ang sweldo mo, kapos talaga," Christopher explained.

According to economic think tank IBON Foundation, a Metro Manila living wage for a family of five was P1,072/day, almost double the present minimum wage of P537/day.

"Kailanga magtaas ng sahod, mahalaga yon. Ang problema maraming Pilipino hindi naman sahuran. Di ba yung mga naglalako ng suman, nagbebenta  ng sigarilyo," explained IBON Executive Director Sonny Africa.

"Kung seryosa talaga yung gobyerno na gustong tulungan lahat ng Pilipino, hindi lang yung pagdadagdag ng sweldo yung kailangan. Umento, kailangan talag magbigay ng ayuda... kailangan maulit yung ginawa noong 2020."

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III conceded that a P537 minimum wage was not enough, and he thus backed labor groups' call for a wage increase.

However, Bello also questioned whether businesses could afford this.

The Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands argued as much, explaining that businesses could not afford a wage increase given the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As for RJ and Christopher, if they could speak with Eleksyon 2022 presidential candidates, they would both ask for the same thing.

"Pagtaas ng presyo dapat ma-control. Tapos sana madagdagan yung minimum wage," said Christopher.

"Mapababa nila ang bilihin, tapos mapataas ang sahod," chimed RJ. "Tingin ko sir, P700. Maganda na ang laban yung P700." — DVM, GMA News