Confederation for Unity, Recognition, and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) joined the workers’ march in Manila to demand a wage increase for government employees based on a living wage from the Marcos Jr. administration.

The economic situation in the Philippines has worsened, with high inflation rates and no clear budget allocation for salary increases. The last tranche of increases under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL5) ended last year, and government employees see no indication of a significant salary increase in the near future.

COURAGE’s National President, Santiago Dasmariñas Jr., has criticized the government’s neglect of the Filipino workforce. “The most vulnerable sectors for low wages form the backbone of the government itself. In the public sector, basic pay starts at P13,000 a month for national agencies and P8,450 for Local Government Units in the 6th class municipality,” he stated.

Instead of focusing on the needs of the working class, the Marcos Jr. administration is prioritizing its Charter Change agenda, which would allow for 100% Foreign Direct Investment. Dasmariñas asserts that this change would have a negative impact on people’s lives. “It is time for Marcos Jr. to recognize and address the pressing issues affecting the livelihoods of the Filipino people,” he added.

COURAGE supports the national minimum wage hike for private sector workers, which has been approved by the Senate. The group calls on the Senate to similarly prioritize the passage of a new salary standardization law for government workers.

This Labor Day,  COURAGE marched with hundreds and thousands of Filipino workers, teachers, health workers, peasants, students, church people, jeepney drivers and operators, and all the patriotic and peace-loving Filipinos to Mendiola to urge Marcos Jr. to immediately pass a bill for salary increase based on a living wage, respect union rights and democratic rights, end any form of contractualization in the public and private sector, and oppose his self-serving Charter Change.

COURAGE also denounces the brutal arrest of the Philippine National Police to the Mayo Uno 6 who were activist that protested in the US Embassy to condemn the US Imperialist intervention in the Philippine economic, industry, agriculuture, and military. The PNP as state apparatus, displayed a fascist and puppet attacks to the people who are only demanding for basic rights.

COURAGE strongly denounces the brutal arrest of the Mayo Uno 6 activists by the Philippine National Police during their protest at the US Embassy. The protest aimed to condemn the US’s Imperialist intervention in the Philippine economy, industry, agriculture, and military. It is unacceptable that the PNP, as a state apparatus, resorted to fascist and puppet-like tactics by violently suppressing the people’s legitimate demands for their basic rights. We demand the immediate release of the Mayo Uno 6 and reiterate to ensure that the rights of the people are respected and upheld.