More than the symbolic vaccination of 5,000 selected minimum wage earners and OFWs on Labor Day, the government must strongly consider granting a P100 emergency wage relief for workers, according to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

“On Labor Day, give workers what is due for them — urgent economic relief, secure jobs, and health care. A P100 wage relief is urgent and necessary especially with the rising cost of living and prolonged quarantines.”  

KMP expressed support to House Bill 9262 filed by the Makabayan bloc in Congress that seeks to provide P100 daily wage subsidy for minimum wage earners for three consecutive months. “The current family living wage is at P1,057. The real value of the P537 daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region is only P434 and much lower in the regions. Many companies have also reduced workdays due to the pandemic How can workers cope with this situation?

Protect, vaccinate workers

The farmers’ group said the government must also heed the working sector’s equitable demand for free, safe, and effective vaccination. Workplaces can be superspreaders and essential workers have a high risk of getting infected with COVID-19. When workers get COVID infected, they shoulder all the costs from healthcare to hospitalization.

KMP also expressed concern with the country’s persistently slow and delayed vaccination rollout. As of April 27, the total vaccines delivered to the country is at 3,525,600 while the total doses administered is only at 1,809, 801 vaccines. When will we achieve herd immunity with this snail-paced inoculation program? 

The government promised that once the 3.3 million donated vaccines are available, the country can vaccinate 120,000 people a day. The expected vaccines include the following: Pfizer 2.35M, Aztrazeneca 1.3M, Sputnik V 2M, Sinovac 4.5M, and Moderna 194,000 doses. #