MANILA — Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) on Monday criticized the Marcos administration’s labor and economic policies as it staged a mobilization during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

In a press release, KMU said Filipino workers continue to face low wages, rising prices of basic goods and utilities, inadequate social services and protections, unemployment, contractualization, hazardous working conditions, and alleged attacks on workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain.

The group also blamed what it described as neoliberal policies, including regressive taxes, privatization of utilities, and deregulation of industries, for worsening the situation of workers.

“Kahit anong pambobola ni Bongbong sa SONA, walang aasahang pag-unlad ang manggagawa at mamamayang Pilipino dahil sa pagsunod sa mga patakarang pabor sa dayuhan at negosyo – gaya ng Pax Silica ng Amerika,” KMU Chairperson Jerome Adonis said.

KMU also criticized the administration’s promotion of the proposed Pax Silica framework, which it said has been presented as a source of employment and industrial development.

“Sinisilaw ang manggagawa sa pangakong trabaho at pag-unlad sa interes ng Amerika. Kapalit ng mababang sahod, gagamitin ang manggagawang Pilipino sa isang industriyang magtitiyak ng supertubo sa Amerika at dayuhang negosyo, lilikha ng produktong gagamitin sa gerang agresyon, dadambungin ang likas na yaman ng bansa at pipinsala sa kabuhayan ng magsasaka at kalikasan. Ang Pax Silica ay papatay sa halip na bubuhay ng industriya!” Adonis said.

The labor group said it supports national industrialization as an alternative, describing it as an industrial development strategy anchored on agriculture and geared toward serving the interests of the Filipino people while protecting the country’s natural resources.

KMU also maintained that such a program would only be possible if the country is free from what it described as U.S. domination.

“Papanagutin ng mga manggagawa at mamamayang Pilipino si Bongbong Marcos sa pagpapakatuta sa Amerika. At ang amo niyang mastermind ng pang-aapi at pagsasamantala sa mga manggagawa at ordinaryong Pilipino – si Donald Trump!” Adonis said.

“Sa Nobyembre, darating ang utak-pulbura, adik sa gera at pandarambong na si Trump para pirmahan ang Pax Silica framework. Hindi hahayaan ng manggagawang Pilipino na payapang dumating at umalis lang ang numero unong terorista sa buong mundo. Sasalubungin natin ito ng pinakamalaking protesta!” he added.

KMU called on the public to support campaigns for higher wages, decent jobs, workers’ rights, and national industrialization, while urging Filipinos to oppose what it described as U.S. neoliberal policies and the proposed Pax Silica framework.