By CESAR JOLITO III
A local workers’ group marked Labor Day with a sharp critique of government leadership, saying the annual celebration has lost its meaning for ordinary workers amid rising prices, stagnant wages and alleged corruption.
In a press statement, Wennie Sancho, secretary general of the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA), said the day meant to honor workers’ dignity and emancipation now “tastes bitter” for many Filipinos struggling to make ends meet.
He pointed to the widening gap between the cost of living and minimum wages, describing it as a “rocket and feather” reality where prices surge rapidly while wages lag behind.
Sancho cited the plight of transport workers as an example, noting that jeepney drivers face increasing fuel costs and higher daily boundary fees while passenger numbers decline.
Many, he said, are forced to cut back on basic needs just to provide for their families.
The labor group also raised concerns over alleged misuse of public funds, claiming that resources meant for essential services such as healthcare and education are being lost to corruption.
Sancho said this has further deepened the burden on workers already grappling with inflation.
GAWA called for immediate action from the government, including the implementation of a living wage, stronger price control measures, and decisive steps to address corruption through convictions rather than investigations alone.
The group also criticized politicians for what it described as empty rhetoric praising workers without concrete policies to improve their conditions.
Sancho stressed that workers remain the backbone of the economy and should not be neglected.
Despite these concerns, the labor leader said workers would continue to assert their rights through protest and collective action, emphasizing that Labor Day was historically won through struggle and should remain a platform for demanding reforms.
Labor Day is observed annually in the Philippines with rallies and activities highlighting workers’ rights, wages and social protection./CJ, WDJ