Eleven days before the 2025 midterm elections, progressive groups led by Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Region (KMU-SMR) called for the upholding of workers’ rights in a mass mobilization in honor of Labor Day.

Protesters rallied for a P1,200 national minimum wage, an end to contractualization, job security, and safe working conditions for all workers.

“Ang atoang mga mamumuo gyud ang isa sa mga labing igo sa effect sa economic hardships… So importante kaayo nga maduso siya nga mga demands karong election,” KMU-SMR Public Information Officer Rauf Sissay said.

The group also demanded lower prices, reduced taxes, and a stop to anti-worker policies, particularly those they say have stagnated under successive administrations. 

With this, they called on this election’s candidates to push for bills related to wage increases in particular, as labor groups have long demanded their realization.

“Naa nay naka-pending karon nga 200-peso legislated wage increase sa Congress, kaso wala siya gi-certify ni President Bongbong Marcos Jr. maski kusog na ang panawagan ug consensus sa mga labor groups nationwide nga dapat na gyud i-increase ang sweldo sa mga trabahante,” Sissay said.

Sissay added that officials should be held accountable for their pronouncements and decisions related to workers’ rights while in office.

“Kinahanglan gihapon nga singlon si Marcos sa iyahang mga pronouncement or sa iyahang mga ginahimo isip presidente.” 

“Gawas niana, papanubagon sad si Duterte tungod kay didto man gud nagsugod sa panahon ni Duterte nga nisamot ang contractualization unya nahimong stagnant o niungot ang panawagan sa pagpausbaw sa mga suhulan.”

Pro-labor platforms

Partylists under the Makabayan coalition — Bayan Muna Partylist, Gabriela Women’s Partylist, Kabataan Partylist, and the Alliance for Concerned Teachers Partylist — also held a miting de avance to endorse their platforms that align with the mobilization’s call for better working rights and conditions.

Among the endorsed platforms are Kabataan’s 10-point Youth Agenda and Bayan Muna’s 15-point Labor Agenda, both of which aim to directly address the demands of multiple sectors, including the youth and LGBTQ community.

As the May 12 elections draw near, labor groups emphasized the importance of electing candidates who will advocate for workers’ rights.

“Pag kana nga mga kandidato madaog na, ang concrete manifestation sa ilahang paggunit sa workers’ rights, agenda o demands is kung mag-implement sila ug mga policy or mga balaud nga makatabang gyud sa atoang mga trabahante,” Sissay said.

The mass mobilization and Koalisyong Makabayan miting de avance were held last May 1 at Freedom Park.