Arao, D. A. (2007, June 27-July 3). Matematika para sa manggagawa. Pinoy Weekly, 6 (24), p. 5. This may be retrieved from http://www.pinoyweekly.org/pw6-24/op_ed/ed-6_24_3.htm.

This article analyzes the latest data on minimum wage and family living wage. Yes, I’ve written several articles on the issue but I still find it necessary to stress the age-old arguments for a substantial increase in the workers’ wages.

I think the article‘s concluding paragraph sums up the arguments I have raised through the years:

Para sa nakararami, ang nabanggit na mga estadistika ay batayan para makibaka. Sa kabila ng opisyal na retorika ng diumanong pag-unlad sa ekonomiya at pagbuti sa kalagayan ng lakas-paggawa, alam ng mga manggagawang hindi kayang tanggalin ng ilusyong ipinapalaganap ang kalam ng sikmura.

Rough English translation (Sorry, the message is better expressed in Filipino!): For the majority, the above-mentioned statistics serve as bases to struggle. Despite the official rhetoric of alleged economic development and improvement in the situation of the labor force, the workers know that the illusion being propagated cannot assuage their hunger.

Please read the article if you have time. Thank you for reading!