A major labor coalition said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) failed to address the issues that matter most to Filipino workers, including low wages, job security, and contractualization.
In a statement released Monday, the NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition said the President's speech highlighted government accomplishments but did not provide concrete solutions to the economic struggles faced by millions of workers.
The group expressed disappointment over the absence of a commitment to pass a ₱200 national legislated wage increase, arguing that temporary government subsidies cannot replace a permanent wage adjustment that would help workers cope with rising prices.
"NAGKAISA! will not tire of fighting for a legislated wage hike," the coalition said.
The coalition also criticised the lack of a clear plan to end contractualization in both the public and private sectors, saying secure and regular employment should be a government priority.
While welcoming the planned expansion of Social Security System (SSS) coverage for Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) workers, NAGKAISA! said social protection is not a substitute for regular employment.
The group urged the government to regularise qualified COS and JO workers performing permanent government functions, stressing that security of tenure is a constitutional right.
It also called attention to the growing number of platform workers, including delivery riders, drivers, and couriers, saying the SONA failed to address their rights to fair pay, social protection, occupational safety, and collective bargaining.
The coalition urged the administration to support the ratification of International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 193 on Decent Work in the Platform Economy.
NAGKAISA! also pushed for stronger worker participation in policymaking, saying trade unions should be treated as genuine partners in shaping labour, economic, energy, and social policies.
On corruption, the coalition said accountability must apply equally to all public officials regardless of political affiliation or influence, arguing that corruption deprives workers of funds that could be used for wages, healthcare, education, housing, and other public services.
The labor coalition called on the administration and Congress to prioritise eight key reforms, including a ₱200 wage hike, regularisation of qualified government workers, an end to abusive contractualization, protection for platform workers, faster labour justice, stronger union rights, meaningful worker participation in policymaking, and an impartial anti-corruption campaign.
"Economic growth has little meaning when workers remain poor despite having jobs," the coalition said, adding that the country's progress should ultimately be measured by the well-being of its workers. (Ben Balce, Editorial Lead)
