The bare minimum, a term most of us are familiar with, is easy to mistake for enough. It keeps things running, covers what is urgent, and gives the appearance of stability—something that people already expect of something instead of asking for it. But for workers here in the Philippines, the bare minimum, in this case a salary that keeps them afloat and still have room for growth economically, is a dream that they can only wish for.
The Philippine minimum wage system is a system programming the people to survive, not grow. Minimum wage is framed as protection, but in reality, it operates as a limitation. While it does keep workers above hunger, it also hinders their progress at improving their standing in life.
The gap between living and surviving is undeniably measurable. The average minimum wage sits around ₱470 a day, while a living wage for a family of five is estimated to be around ₱1,230 daily. Even in Metro Manila, where wages can reportedly reach up to ₱700 pesos, the numbers still fall short. The math is plain and simple, and it is cruel and unforgiving, most especially to the people.
Wage increases on the other hand comes in small, cautious increments, while prices move faster and without hesitation. Over the past few years, wage growth has only kept pace with inflation, meaning workers did not truly gain, but only kept up. In the event that expenses overshadow income, there is no way for progress to take foot in a worker’s life.
This is an experience I’ve learned to understand firsthand. Back when I was in Junior High School, I lived alone and received only monetary support from my parents. While I did not have a job at the time, I understood quickly how brutal the minimum wage system is. I struggled to even budget my everyday life, much less my monthly one.
Some might say that raising wages can cause more harm than good to the economy, citing that it can trigger inflation or run businesses to the ground. But people can fail to realize that low wages already hurt workers, and in that regard, the economy. If the economy itself does not allow growth, it cannot expect to become better.
What needs to change is not just the amount, but the goal behind it. Wages must be aligned with the real cost of living, not just the minimum needed to function. Because when workers cannot save, invest, and breathe, the economy itself is held back. Growth that does not reach the workers can never be considered real growth.
Change is never impossible, but it requires refusing to accept survival as the bare minimum. Wages can be designed to help build, not just survive. But that can only happen when the problem is ultimately acknowledged.
