MANILA, Philippines — A business process outsourcing (BPO) workers’ group has voiced support for a proposed measure seeking to implement a national minimum wage based on the actual cost of living, saying that Filipino workers “deserve to live with dignity.”

The BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN) on Thursday expressed full backing for House Bill 202, also known as the Living Wage Bill, which was filed by ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio and Kabataan Partylist Rep. Renee Co.

The bill aims to do away with the current region-based wage system and establish a uniform national minimum wage in line with the Philippine Constitution’s guarantee of a living wage for all workers.

“BPO workers are often portrayed as well-paid, but the truth is many of us still live paycheck to paycheck,” said BIEN President Mylene Cabalona. “We deal with graveyard shifts, physical and mental exhaustion, and unstable contracts, yet our wages have not kept up with the rising cost of living. We welcome House Bill 202 because it affirms what workers have long demanded: a living wage that reflects the real value of our labor.”

Currently, the country’s regional wage boards determine wage levels depending on location. But BIEN said this structure has resulted in wide gaps and wage rates that fall far below the actual needs of workers and their families.

According to Cabalona, BPO workers—numbering over 1.5 million across the country—are key contributors to the economy but remain subject to low wages, insecure jobs, and minimal benefits.

“We create the value that drives this industry. It’s only just that we demand our fair share,” she said. “We urge Congress to pass House Bill 202 and deliver justice to millions of Filipino workers who have long been denied a life of dignity.”

BIEN also urged labor groups and the general public to rally behind the bill and push for a national minimum living wage for all Filipino workers.