Workers Demand Action on Corruption, Wages

Workers Demand Action on Corruption, Wages

By Wilma N. Yamzon – TheNationWeek.Com | September 11, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – As the investigation into a massive flood control corruption scandal grips the nation, a coalition of labor groups is demanding swift action from Congress to address the plight of millions of minimum wage earners struggling to survive on stagnant wages.

The National Wage Coalition, comprised of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition (NAGKAISA!), and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), is accusing lawmakers of a double standard, prioritizing investigations into corruption while neglecting the urgent need for a substantial wage increase.

“If the House of Representatives and the Senate can convene marathon hearings to investigate corruption, then they must act with equal urgency to raise workers’ wages,” the coalition stated, highlighting the fact that minimum wage earners have not seen a significant increase since 1989.

They argue that the broken regional wage board system has effectively starved over five million Filipinos, leaving them trapped in a cycle of poverty.

The coalition points to the staggering scale of the alleged corruption as a stark illustration of the problem.

According to the Department of Finance (DOF), “ghost” flood control projects have drained an estimated ₱118.5 billion from the economy between 2023 and 2025 alone. This vast sum, the coalition argues, could have created 266,000 decent jobs or provided each minimum wage earner with an additional ₱23,700 – nearly two months’ worth of wages.

“For far too long, Filipino workers and their families have endured stagnant, starvation wages only to find out that the very funds meant to spare us from wading through floods have been shamelessly plundered,” the coalition declared.

“Workers are told to tighten their belts while corrupt officials enrich themselves from the people’s money. We have had enough of being treated as beggars in our own land.”

The coalition is demanding that Congress deliver justice not only by punishing corruption but also by immediately raising wages.

It warns that the people’s patience is wearing thin.

Beyond a wage hike, workers are also calling for comprehensive solutions to address the rising costs of living, including improvements to the public transportation system, regulation of ride-hailing services to minimize fares, lower toll fees, and long-term solutions to traffic congestion.

They are also demanding measures to lower the prices of basic commodities, food, and other essential goods.

The National Wage Coalition’s demands represent a growing frustration among Filipino workers who feel they are bearing the brunt of economic hardship while corruption continues to thrive.