28/12/2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BU5rz1YPD/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Workers’ Wishes for Christmas: ‘Livable Wages, Secure Jobs, End to Corruption’
The SENTRO ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa wishes for the government to meet long-overdue demands from workers, including the legislation for livable wages, the end to contractualization, and the strict use of funds for the public’s welfare.
These demands are nothing new. Workers have time and again struggled against increasing costs of necessities, with their demands for livable wages met by stark opposition from the powers at be.
“Earlier this year, the Senate willfully killed our proposals for a legislated Php 200 across-the-board wage increase. These bills were a manifestation of workers’ calls for livable wages, yet President Marcos Jr. and his administration responded with a resounding rejection. In the spirit of Christmas, it is crucial that the government address the ever-worsening costs for living and goods by strengthening the purchasing power of our workers through a substantial wage increase,” said SENTRO Chairperson Abdulani Lakibul.
With only insecure jobs as their source of income, workers likewise demand an end to the exploitative practice of contractualization.
“Workers’ rights are not fully attained so long as contractualization remains the standard practice for corporations,” continued Lakibul. “It denies workers the benefits mandated to them while providing less than the bare minimum wages necessary for decent living. Without security of tenure, workers cannot meaningfully organize and bargain for their wages and rights. Against this exploitation, the administration must pass into law the Security of Tenure bill as a step towards genuine fulfillment of our rights.”
Against the backdrop of corruption issues that plague the country’s government throughout the years and in recent months, SENTRO demands the strict dedication of public funds toward our peoples’ development and welfare and the eradication of corruption across all of government.
“There is no denying that the public services we need, most especially for healthcare, are severely lacking. That can be attributed to the abuse of public funds – the primary symptom of corruption within the government. While we welcome the Supreme Court’s decision ordering Malacañang to return the Php 60 billion PhilHealth funds, this makes up only a fraction of the true wealth denied from the public by the government. Malacañang must return PhilHealth’s subsidies for 2025 and 2026 – the latter alone amounting to Php 147 billion, and the Php 255 billion in unremitted sin tax shares for universal healthcare,” said Lakibul.
With the year coming to a close in a matter of weeks, workers wish for justice – that every official, regardless of position in government, be held accountable and face the full brunt of the consequences for their crimes against the people.
“Despite massive public outcry for justice, none of the high-ranking public officials complicit in corruption have truly faced any meaningful punishment for their crimes. Let us start off 2026 well by ensuring that the corrupt be held accountable and receive their due punishment,” said Lakibul.
The government has multitudes of wishes left unfulfilled, with workers’ demands only making up a fraction. While the government’s mandate is public service, the true champions for meaningful change and development are the people themselves. SENTRO’s final wish this Christmas season is that the working class organize and advance our calls for the welfare and benefit of all Filipino citizens.
