MANILA — Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) criticized the Marcos administration over what it described as a failure to cushion the impact of rising oil prices, which it said has led to increases in the cost of goods and services.

The group cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing that inflation in April 2026 reached 7.2 percent, the highest recorded in three years.

KMU said workers earning nominal wages between PHP411 and PHP695 now effectively take home only PHP301 to PHP529 due to higher prices. It added that this reflects a decline in purchasing power ranging from PHP124 to PHP165.

The labor center said the situation underscores the urgency of raising minimum wages to meet the PHP1,200 family living wage benchmark.

“Backbone ng republika, pero mababali na ang likod sa bigat ng presyo ng bilihin. Bongbong, itigil na ang kakakuda. Wala na dapat pagpapatumpik-tumpik pa, dapat gawing nakabubuhay ang sahod sa buong bansa,” said KMU Chairperson Jerome Adonis.

KMU also called on the government to scrap the 12 percent value-added tax and excise tax on oil, enforce price ceilings on essential goods, and adopt policies to curb alleged overpricing by local oil companies.

The group further urged workers to sustain protest actions beyond Labor Day to press for immediate economic interventions, as it maintained that the government has been ineffective in addressing the ongoing crisis.